The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a combination of aquatic exercises and pain neurophysiology education with aquatic exercises alone in chronic low back pain patients.

 

Single-blind randomized controlled trial.

 

Outpatient clinic.

 

Sixty-two chronic low back pain patients were randomly allocated to receive aquatic exercises and pain neurophysiology education (n = 30) or aquatic exercises alone (n = 32).

 

Twelve sessions of a 6-week aquatic exercises programme preceded by 2 sessions of pain neurophysiology education. Controls received only 12 sessions of the 6-week aquatic exercises programme.

 

The primary outcomes were pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale) and functional disability (Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale) at the baseline, 6 weeks after the beginning of the aquatic exercises programme and at the 3 months follow-up. Secondary outcome was kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia).

 

Fifty-five participants completed the study. Analysis using mixed-model ANOVA revealed a significant treatment condition interaction on pain intensity at the 3 months follow-up, favouring the education group (mean SD change: -25.4± 26.7 vs -6.6 ± 30.7, P < 0.005). Although participants in the education group were more likely to report perceived functional benefits from treatment at 3 months follow-up (RR=1.63, 95%CI: 1.01-2.63), no significant differences were found in functional disability and kinesiophobia between groups at any time.

 

This study's findings support the provision of pain neurophysiology education as a clinically effective addition to aquatic exercises.

 

Reference:
SAGE Publications – Clinical Rehabilitation – June 2015 vol. 29 no. 6 538-547

PMID: 25200879