Structural and Functional Effects of High Intensity Training (HIT) Program in Patients With Non-specific Chronic Low Back Pain

Summary

Low back pain is a common disorder, occurring worldwide in both males and females in all age groups. The prevalence is higher in females and the incidence peaks between 30 and 65 years. It is currently the most frequent musculoskeletal cause of functional disability and it has a major socio-economic impact on today's society. Although a small percentage of persons with low back pain can be diagnosed with a specific underlying cause, almost 90% of persons with low back pain present with symptoms of nonspecific origin. A part of these symptoms are only of short duration, but 23% of all people will develop nonspecific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP).

Exercise therapy (ET) is currently an important component in the treatment of NSCLBP. Previous studies analysed the effects of various modes of exercise therapy, such as motor control therapy, core stability training and aerobic conditioning training. However, therapy outcomes can be low, and guidelines in favour of using a specific program are contradictory. It thus still remains unclear which therapy modality is best suited. Furthermore, no recommendations are available about optimal training intensities during rehabilitation of persons with NSCLBP.

Since as well aerobic as muscular deconditioning are apparent in persons with chronic low back pain and improvements in overall physical fitness can affect therapy outcomes in this population, ET specifically focussing on physical fitness can be advocated for NSCLBP rehabilitation. High Intensity Training (HIT), has been promoted as an effective and efficient training method for improving physical fitness and health related parameters in healthy persons. Also, HIT resulted in successful reconditioning and improvement of functional and disease related outcomes in persons with other chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, heart failure, COPD and cardiometabolic diseases. Although some studies showed promising results for the effect of HIT on low back pain such as high intensity isolated, evidence is still scarce and study results are unclear because of methodological shortcomings.

The aim of this randomized clinical trial study is to evaluate the effects of a HIT program on disease related outcomes, physical fitness and muscle contractile characteristics compared to a conventional rehabilitation program in persons with NSCLBP.

Conditions

• Low Back Pain

Interventions

OTHER

high intensity training (HIT) program

The participants are randomly divided through use of sealed envelopes into four groups that all follow high intensity training (HIT) programs. Each training group follows of a 12 week program (2x/week, 2h). All training will be conducted under the guidance of expert therapists.

OTHER

moderate intensity training (MIT) exercise therapy

MIT exercise consisting of a combination of previous programs (cardiovascular fitness, muscular fitness and general training specific trunk muscles) (the 'MIT' group).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Jessa Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Hasselt University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Annick Timmermans, prof. dr. · Hasselt University

• Frank Vandenabeele, prof. dr. · Hasselt University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

25 Years

Max Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2016-08-31

Primary Completion

2018-08-31

Completion

2018-09-30

Countries

• Belgium

Study Locations