Early intervention of aerobic exercise to rehabilitation of non-specific low back pain

doi:10.3321/j.issn:1673-8225.2004.26.010

Abstract：BACKGROUND: There are quite a number of treatment methods for non-specific low back pain(NLBP), of which most are passive expectant treatments. There are few reports on early exercise interventions to it.OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effects of early aerobic intervention and functional reconstruction on non-specific low back pain.DESIGN: A clinical randomized case control study was conducted.SETTING and PARTICIPANTS: Totally 189 cases of NLBP treated in outpatient service during January 1996 to December 1998 were collected from Asia Medical Complex Muscat Sultanate of Oman. There were 112 males and 77 females who all were Arabs and Europeans.INTERVENTIONS: The 189 cases were divided randomly into two groups by their visiting order. There were 137 cases in Group A receiving early exercises and massage treatment. Fifty-two cases of Group B only took massage treatment. Visual analogue scale(VAS) and Oswestry low back pain index (OSW) were used to assess the therapeutic effects of two groups before and after treatment.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes of VAS and OSW score index before and after treatment.RESULTS: The index of VAS and OSW in both groups all decreased. The decrease of index of Group A was more prominent than that of Group B. The VAS value of Group A and Group B before and after treatment were (59.64±1.19), (28.98±0.95) and (63.33±1.91), (36.86±1.47)respectively( t =36. 644, 19. 785, P ＜ 0. 01). The value of OSW in Group A was (26. 781 ±0. 492), (11. 649 -0. 357) respectively before and after treatment, while in Group B it was (27. 098 ±0. 756), (15. 625 ±0. 570)respectively( t =42. 216, 18. 202, P ＜ 0.01). The recurrence rate in Group A (15.08%, 19/126) was lower than that of Group B (35.42%, 17/48)after 6-month to 2-year follow-up.CONCLUSION: Early intervention of exercise therapy for NLBP can relieve pain, improve and reconstruct waist functions, prevent body from functional decline and improve daily mobility.