Walking Away From Back Pain, One Step at a Time

University of Saskatchewan

Status: Completed

Conditions: Low Back Pain

Treatments: Behavioral: Standard; Behavioral: Walking

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02284958

14-218

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will investigate if a 12-week, individually-tailored walking program, using pedometers will be a more clinically and cost-effective option for the management of chronic low back pain than standardized advice and education.

Full description

Specific objectives of the study are:

1. To determine perceived levels of disability and baseline levels of walking activity in a sample of those with chronic low back pain (CLBP)
2. To determine the uptake and adherence to a pedometer-driven walking program for people with CLBP
3. To test the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a walking programme to improve outcomes for CLBP compared to a standardized back care education package
4. To test the feasibility of a walking programme in a sub-sample of rural Saskatchewan farmers/agricultural workers.

Enrollment: 174 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• males and females aged 18 years or over,
• experiencing low back pain (i.e. between the 12th costal margin and gluteal fold with or without associated leg pain) persisting for a minimum of three months, and
• assessed as capable of participating in a walking programme.

Exclusion criteria

• any spinal surgery in the past 12 months;
• evidence of nerve root, spinal cord, or cauda equina compression;
• severe spinal stenosis indicated by signs of neurogenic claudication, grade 3 to 4 spondylolisthesis, fibromyalgia, or systemic/inflammatory disorder;
• as well as any other current lower extremity musculoskeletal injury or contraindication to increasing physical activity (PA) levels.

The latter may include:

• any cardiorespiratory or other medical condition limiting exercise tolerance;
• history of serious psychological or psychiatric illness (mild depression eligible for inclusion); and/or
• pregnancy.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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174 participants in 2 patient groups

Standard/Control group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Each participant will receive a one-off individualized educational session regarding the management of chronic low back pain with a Physical Therapist: includes a physical examination, standardized advice \& provision of the 'Back Book'.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Standard

Walking group

Experimental group

Description:

Each participant will receive a one-off educational session as per standard/control group followed by a 12 week graded, individually tailored, pedometer driven walking programme given by a Physical Therapist. Participants will be monitored each week and provided with encouragement and advice to increase the number of steps taken each day.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Walking