Combined and Aquatic Exercise in Chronic Low Back Pain

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Aquatic-exercise Program: This intervention will consist of an aquatic-exercise program, performed in shallow water (120-150 cm deep) at a temperature of 32-34 °C, and supervised by a physiotherapist with over two years of experience in aquatic-based exercise and Ai Chi method. The aquatic-exercise sessions, will consist of a 5-minute warm-up phase, a 30-40-minute training phase, and a 10-15-minute relaxation/cool-down phase, adapted from Ai Chi exercise positions. The Ai Chi method consists of 19 katas (movements) that incorporate deep breathing, coordinated upper and lower limb actions, trunk control, and slow, continuous motion. In this study, only 10 of these 19 katas will be included in the aquatic-exercise protocol.

Land-based Exercise Program: This program will include specific land-based exercises, supervised by a physiotherapist with more than two years of experience in therapeutic exercise. The land-based exercise program, will be divided into three components: core stability exercises (15-20 minutes), trunk and lower limb stretching exercises (10-15 minutes), and relaxation/coordination exercises adapted from the Ai Chi method (10-15 minutes).

Home-based Exercise Program: This exercise program will consist of a home-based exercise program. Each session will last 20-30 minutes and will be performed individually at home without professional supervision. The home-based exercise program will include core stability exercises that progress from the supine to the quadruped position. It will mirror the land-based exercise program and is adapted from a previous unsupervised home-based protocol.

Study summary

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the effects of a combined aquatic- and land-based exercise program, as well as an aquatic-exercise program, compared with a control group receiving home-based exercise, on pain, disability, and functional capacity in adults with CLBP. Secondary objectives include examining the effects on fear of movement, anxiety and depression, quadriceps and hand-grip strength, and lumbar mobility. The main question it aims to answer is: "Which type of exercise program is most effective at improving pain, disability, functional capacity, fear of movement, anxiety and depression, quadriceps and hand-grip strength, and lumbar mobility in adults with chronic low back pain?".

Participants will perform an aquatic-based exercise program (aquatic group), a combined aquatic and land-based exercise program (aquatic and land group), or a land-based exercise program (home group).

Researchers will compare groups to find any differences in pain, disability, functional capacity, kinesiophobia, anxiety and depression, quadriceps and hand-grip strength, and lumbar mobility.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Visual Analogue Scale — One measurement will be assessed at baseline and one at each follow-up (8 and 12 weeks).
  Pain intensity will be assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale (Minimum: 0; Maximum 10). Higher values correspond to worse outcome.
• Oswestry Disability Index - version 2.0 — One measurement will be assessed at baseline and one at each follow-up (8 and 12 weeks).
  Disability due to low back pain will be assessed with the Oswestry Disability Index (Minimum: 0; Maximum 100). Higher values correspond to worse outcome.
• Short Physical Performance Battery — One measurement will be assessed at baseline and one at each follow-up (8 and 12 weeks).
  Lower-limb functional capacity (balance, gait speed, chair stands) will be assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery, a simple tool that includes the four-meter gait speed test, the five-repetition sit-to-stand test and a balance test, and gives a total score based on the performance in each of those tests. Each component is scored (0-4), yielding a composite score (0-12), with higher scores indicating better performance.

Trial sites (1)

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