Randomised controlled trial for evaluation of fitness programme for patients with chronic low back pain

Citation

Frost H, Moffett JK, Moser JS & Fairbank JCT (1995) Randomised controlled trial for evaluation of fitness programme for patients with chronic low back pain. BMJ, 310, pp. 151-154. http://www.bmj.com/content/310/6973/151; https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.310.6973.151

Abstract
Objective: To evaluate a progressive fitness programme for patients with chronic low back pain.  Design: Single blind randomised controlled trial. Assessments were carried out before and after treatment by an observer blinded to the study and included a battery of validated measures. All patients were followed up by postal questionnaire six months after treatment. Setting: Physiotherapy department of orthopaedic hospital.  Subjects: 81 patients with chronic low back pain referred from orthopaedic consultants for physiotherapy. The patients were randomly allocated to a fitness programme or control group.  Intervention: Both groups were taught specific exercises to carry out at home and referred to a back-school for education in back care. Patients allocated to the fitness class attended eight exercise classes over four weeks in addition to the home programme and backschool.  Results: Significant differences between the groups were shown in the changes before and after treatment in scores on the Oswestry low back pain disability index (P

Journal
BMJ: Volume 310