Is improved fitness associated with reduced pain intensity in patients with low back pain?
Cecilie Rud Budtz, Lene Wulff Krogsgaard, Berit Schiøttz-Christensen and Thomas Maribo
Abstract
Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is a common global health problem and it causes more disability worldwide than any other disease. Despite this, knowledge
concerning causes, prevention and effective treatments is lacking. It is a general assumption that LBP is associated with reduced physical capacity, but only few studies
have examined this association.
Objective: To examine the association between fitness and pain intensity in LBP-patients. Further to examine the association between clinically relevant improved
fitness and clinically relevant reduced pain intensity at follow-up based on the patients’ baseline fitness levels. The hypothesis being that the association is most
substantial for patients with poor baseline fitness levels at inclusion.
Methods: Cohort study with three months’ follow-up based on data from a previous RCT study. The study population consisted of 176 patients with LBP and
complete 3 months’ follow-up on fitness and pain. Clinically relevant improved fitness was defined as improved fitness =10% from baseline to follow-up. Clinically
relevant change in pain intensity was defined as a reduction =30% on the Numerical Rating Scale. The association was examined by Spearman correlation and logistic
regression and presented by OR (95 CI).
Results: No correlation between fitness and pain intensity at baseline was found. Also, no association between clinically relevant improved fitness and clinically
relevant reduced pain intensity based on the patients’ baseline fitness levels was detected.
Conclusions: The study examined the association between fitness and pain intensity in LBP-patients and no association between changes in fitness and pain intensity
during the 3 months’ follow-up was seen. The study contributes with evidence based on clinically relevant changes in fitness and pain intensity.
Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is a common global health problem and it causes more disability worldwide than any other disease. Despite this, knowledge
concerning causes, prevention and effective treatments is lacking. It is a general assumption that LBP is associated with reduced physical capacity, but only few studies
have examined this association.
Objective: To examine the association between fitness and pain intensity in LBP-patients. Further to examine the association between clinically relevant improved
fitness and clinically relevant reduced pain intensity at follow-up based on the patients’ baseline fitness levels. The hypothesis being that the association is most
substantial for patients with poor baseline fitness levels at inclusion.
Methods: Cohort study with three months’ follow-up based on data from a previous RCT study. The study population consisted of 176 patients with LBP and
complete 3 months’ follow-up on fitness and pain. Clinically relevant improved fitness was defined as improved fitness =10% from baseline to follow-up. Clinically
relevant change in pain intensity was defined as a reduction =30% on the Numerical Rating Scale. The association was examined by Spearman correlation and logistic
regression and presented by OR (95 CI).
Results: No correlation between fitness and pain intensity at baseline was found. Also, no association between clinically relevant improved fitness and clinically
relevant reduced pain intensity based on the patients’ baseline fitness levels was detected.
Conclusions: The study examined the association between fitness and pain intensity in LBP-patients and no association between changes in fitness and pain intensity
during the 3 months’ follow-up was seen. The study contributes with evidence based on clinically relevant changes in fitness and pain intensity.
Udgivelsesform | Videnskabelige artikler |
År | 2016 |
Udgiver | Journal of Spine Care |