Effects of a Land and Aquatic Exercise-based Program on Pain, Mobility and Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

Instituto Politécnico de Leiria

Status: Completed

Conditions: Chronic Low-back Pain (cLBP)

Treatments: Other: Land-based Exercise Program; Other: Aquatic Exercise Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06641570

CE/IPLEIRIA/47/2024

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this randomized clinical trial] is to study the effect of a combined aquatic and land-based exercise program compared to an aquatic program on pain, functional disability, and quality of life in adults with chronic low back pain. The main question it aims to answer is: "Does a combined aquatic and land-based exercise program improve functional disability and quality of life and reduce pain in adults with chronic low back pain?".

Participants will perform an aquatic exercise program (control group) or a combined aquatic and land-based exercise program (experimental group).

Researchers will compare groups to find any differences in pain, funcional disability and quality of life.

Enrollment: 41 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Both gender;
• Portuguese nationality;
• Aged over 18 years;
• Chronic Low Back Pain lasting three months or longer and with an intensity of 3 or higher on the Visual Analogue Scale at rest.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals who refuse to participate or do not provide informed consent;
• Pain radiating to the lower limb;
• Recent pregnancy or childbirth (less than 8 weeks ago);
• Ongoing physical therapy treatments;
• Severe rheumatological, neurological, neoplastic, cardiovascular diseases or other conditions that could prevent full participation in the intervention;
• History of spinal surgery;
• Inflammatory, infectious, or malignant spinal diseases;
• Psychiatric disorders that may affect adherence and symptom assessment.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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41 participants in 2 patient groups

Aquatic Exercise Program + Land-exercise Program

Experimental group

Description:

This intervention will include 8 sessions in 8 weeks, once a week. Each session will last between 25 to 35 minutes and will be divided into two components: core stability exercises and stretching of the trunk and lower limbs. Core Stability Exercises: These will consist of isometric exercises maintained for 7-8 seconds, 8-12 repetitions, 1 set, with brief rest intervals of 3 seconds between repetitions and 30 seconds to 1 minute between exercises. Exercises will include abdominal hollowing, side bridge (both sides), supine extension bridge, lower limb extension from prone (both sides), and alternate arm and leg raise from quadruped. Stretching Exercises: Participants will perform muscle stretching exercises, holding the maximum stretch for 30 seconds to 1 minute, and returning to the original position, followed by 5 to 10 seconds of rest. Each exercise will be repeated two to three times. Stretches will target the hamstrings, iliopsoas, piriformis, and tensor fasciae latae.

Treatment:

Other: Aquatic Exercise Program

Other: Land-based Exercise Program

Aquatic Exercise Program

Active Comparator group

Description:

This intervention will include 16 sessions of an aquatic-exercise program, twice a week, over 8 weeks at a water temperature between 32-34°C. Each session will be conducted in groups of 8 to 12 patients and will last about 45 minutes. The aquatic exercise sessions will include a warm-up phase: walking forwards, sideways, and backwards; a training phase: active range of motion exercises for the spine, upper and lower limbs; aerobic exercises with jumps and static running at various speeds; muscle strengthening, 8-12 repetitions, 1-2 sets, 8-10 exercises including hip flexion, extension, adduction, and abduction, knee flexion and extension, knee cycling, shoulder flexion, extension, and abduction, elbow flexion, extension, and pronation-supination, squatting, and stretching exercises for the neck, trunk, and limbs; and a relaxation/cool-down phase: including lying supine and low-impact exercises such as slow walking, squatting, and standing.

Treatment:

Other: Aquatic Exercise Program