Medical exercise and physiotherapy modes and frequency as predictors for a recurrence of chronic non-specific low back pain

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

A considerable part of patients with non-specific low back pain (LBP) suffer from a recurrence of symptoms after therapy cessation.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this cohort study was to evaluate the predictive value of active and passive treatments and treatment modalities on a recurrence of low back pain after cessation of medically prescribed therapy.

METHODS:

Patients with non-specific LBP from a health- and therapy-center were included. Treatments were monitored and categorized as active or passive. During one year after therapy cessation, patients were monitored to retrieve information about recurrence of symptoms. Patients were dichotomized (recurrence versus no recurrence). An ROC-Analysis was used to determine optimal cut-offs for relevant treatment characteristics’ (passive versus active; frequency) impact on recurrence risk. The relative risk for a recurrence was calculated based on Chi ${}^2$ -test.

RESULTS:

Data from 96 participants (56 females, 40 males, mean age 49 years, standard deviation 11 years) were analysed. A total of 34 participants had recurring LBP. The frequency of active treatment differed significantly between groups with or without recurrence ( $p<$ 0.05). A therapy frequency of 1.45 active treatments/week was a sensitive cut-off (sensitivity: 0.73) to discriminate the recurrence groups. Participants with an active therapy frequency of less than 1.45 treatments per week showed an 82% increased relative recurrence risk (RR: 1.824 (95%-CI: 1.077–3.087)).

CONCLUSIONS:

The results empathize the importance of active treatments (i.e. exercise) in the therapy and (secondary) prevention of non-specific LBP. Less than 1.45 active treatment sessions/week increases the 1-year-risk of a recurrence by 82%. Performing at least two treatments sessions per week is therefore recommended.