Exercise and Mindfulness in Patients With Non-specific Chronic Low Back Pain: The BACKFIT Project

Summary

Chronic low back pain is among the most common health problems seen in primary care, and is responsible for disability and absenteeism in our country. In most cases, it is attributed to a non-specific cause and classified as non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP). Taking into consideration that multidimensional programs usually present more effectiveness reducing pain than unimodal programs, the current research investigates the role of unexplored multidimensional program (exercise and mindfulness) in NSCLBP. The primary aim of this project is to determine the effectiveness of a supervised exercise program (intervention 1) and a supervised exercise program + mindfulness (intervention 2) on pain, disability, trunk muscle endurance/strength, quality of life and gait parameters in patients with NSCLBP.

Conditions

• Low Back Pain

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Exercise

The exercise intervention will focus on working the core muscles, starting with low-intensity isometric contraction of the core muscles that stabilize the trunk; increasing intensity by performing functional tasks (phase 1: independent isometric contraction of transversus-abdominis and multifidus, phase 2: co-contraction and functional tasks of the deep trunk muscles; phase 3: functional task with load; phase 4: functional task with unstable surface)

BEHAVIORAL

Exercise + mindfulness

The Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program will strictly follow the protocol developed by Jon Kabat Zinn. Each session will include three activities: the presentation of a topic, moments of dialogue and exploration in group (using appreciative inquiry) and a Mindfulness practice. Participants will be provided with workbooks, audios with guided meditations, and instructions for practice at home. In addition, the Exercise + mindfulness intervention will include the exercise program described in the exercise intervention.

OTHER

Control group

The control group will be provided with the usual care received in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service: stretching, breathing and motor control exercises 2 days / week (45 minutes per session) during a period of 8 weeks.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves

  collaborator OTHER

• European Social Fund

  collaborator OTHER

• Fundación Pública Andaluza para la Investigación Biomédica Andalucía Oriental

  collaborator OTHER

• IBS Granada

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

20 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-01-01

Primary Completion

2025-12-31

Completion

2025-12-31

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations