Abstract

The purpose of this study was to verify the impact of a physical exercise program on low back pain and quality of life in people with chronic low back pain. Sixteen active women (45±9.2 years; 157.5±3.6 cm; 61.9±9.3 kg) with chronic low back pain were randomly assigned to a control group (CG; n=8) or an experimental group (EG; n=8) in a 12-week parallel design. The EG continued their regular exercise and added the training program twice weekly, while the CG followed only their routines. Assessments at baseline (M1) and post-intervention (M2) included anthropometrics, a visual analog scale, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Health Survey Questionnaire, and the Oswestry Disability Index. Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon, and Friedman tests were conducted. Between M1-M2, the EG showed significant improvements in pain (p=0.017), physical disability (p=0.027), and quality of life (physical performance, body pain, social function; p=0.027, p=0.018, and p=0.014, respectively). The CG showed improvement in general health status (p=0.028). Post-intervention, the EG significantly outperformed the CG in reducing low back pain (p=0.024) and in quality-of-life areas of physical performance, body pain, and social function (p=0.031, p=0.013, p=0.020, respectively). The CG improved in general health (p=0.045). Overall, the training program yielded positive effects, with the EG showing marked pain reduction and enhancements in physical performance and body pain quality-of-life parameters compared to the CG.

Keywords: Chronic low back pain, physical exercise, quality of life, pain.

Abbreviations: LBP: Low back pain; CLD: Chronic low back pain; ODI: Oswestry Disability Index; IPAQ: International Physical Activity Questionnaire; SF-36: Medical Outcomes Study - Short Form 36 items; FMS- Functional Movement Screen; VAS: Visual Analog Scale; M1: Moment 1; M2: Moment 2; CG: Control Group; EG: Experimental Group