Regaining Confidence Despite Chronic Back Pain
Scientists in England are exploring ways to treat chronic back pain. The Back to Fitness (BTF) exercise program has been used and studied since 1980. The idea is to help patients overcome fear that keeps them from moving normally.
Who can get the most help from the BTF program? That's the focus of this study. Patients were divided into two groups. Group one went to a one-hour exercise class twice a week for one month. Group two had general care as usual with the doctor.
Each patient was classified as a low- or high-fear avoider based on a test given before treatment. Change in this test score after the exercise or treatment program was used as a measure of success. Results were measured after six weeks and again one year later.
The authors report that high-fear avoiders did better with exercise than the group getting general care. The benefits only lasted a short time when the patient had a high level of distress or depression. Low-fear avoiders didn't have any different results than the usual care group.
Different groups of patients may need different types of treatment. The BTF exercise program may be best for patients with high-fear avoidance beliefs.
References: Jennifer A. Klaber Moffett, MSc, PhD, MCSP, et al. High Fear-Avoiders of Physical Activity Benefit From an Exercise Program for Patients with Back Pain. In Spine. June 1, 2004. Vol. 29. No. 11. Pp. 1167-1173.
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