Effectiveness of a m-Health–Delivered Home-Based Exercise Program for Self-management of Chronic Low Back Pain

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of a mobile health application versus the booklet-based modality for delivering a self-managed home exercise program in terms of pain, health-related quality of life, and biopsychosocial outcomes in people with chronic low back pain in outpatient settings. DESIGN: This is a single-blinded randomized controlled trial involving 99 adults (≥18 yrs) with chronic low back pain. Participants in the intervention group performed an home exercise program via mobile health (PainReApp), while the control group received the same booklet-based home exercise program. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, pain-related, health-related quality of life, and biopsychosocial outcomes were measured at baseline, 3 (T1), and 6 mos (T2). RESULTS: Within-group improvements ( P < 0.05) were statistically significant for body mass index and physical functioning tests (T1, T2) in the intervention group, and for physical functioning tests (T1, T2), physical component of health-related quality of life and sleep quality (T1) in the control group. A significant between-group difference was observed for 30-sec arm curl ( P = 0.038) at T1, favoring the intervention group. The evolution of the effect did not differ significantly for any of the outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Self-managed home exercise program could slightly improve anthropometric, physical functioning, health-related quality of life, and sleep quality in both groups of people with chronic low back pain. Nevertheless, there were not consistent differences between mobile health and booklet-based modalities for delivering a home exercise program. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621000783820).