Effects of an eight-week physical exercise program on low back pain and function in fruit workers: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Low back pain is prevalent in workers’ health and functional performance.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the effects of a physical exercise program on low back pain and disability in fruit workers.

METHODS:

This randomized controlled trial assigned 44 workers (37 $\pm$ 9 years) to two groups. The experimental group consisted of 10 men and 12 women with an average age of 38 ( $\pm$ 9) years, and the control group consisted of 8 men and 14 women with an average age of 36 ( $\pm$ 10) years. The experimental group (EG) performed a program of strength and flexibility exercises for eight weeks, twice a week. The control group (CG) received minimal care, with a booklet with guidelines for performing exercises. The primary outcomes included changes in perceived disability and the intensity of pain evaluated by the Rolland-Morris questionnaire and the Numerical Pain Scale, respectively. All outcomes were measured at baseline and after eight weeks of intervention.

RESULTS:

A significant difference was observed in the within-group analysis, with a mean reduction in pain intensity in the EG and CG of $-$ 4.55 (95%CI $-$ 7.01 to $-$ 2.09) and $-$ 3.81 (95%CI 1.72–5.90), respectively. For disability, a reduction of $-$ 4.45 (95% CI $-$ 8.89 to $-$ 0.02) was observed in the EG and of $-$ 4.43 ( $-$ 7.38 to $-$ 1.48) in the CG. There were no significant differences in the between-groups analysis.

CONCLUSIONS:

The exercise program was not superior to using the educational booklet. However, both interventions showed substantial decreases in pain and disability levels.