The effect of a conservative versus an aggressive-progressive exercise programme on chronic low back pain and disability

Abstract

Thirty-two (N= 32) full-time working subjects between the ages of 20 and 55 years participated in a 12-week exercise intervention study. Subjects were randomly divided into a control group receiving conservative exercises and low intensity back school and an experimental group receiving aggressive-progressive exercises and high intensity back school. Pain and disability were measured with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The ODI is used to determine the impact of low back pain on the activities of daily living. Results showed that both groups improved significantly from baseline, but there was no significant difference between the groups. The experimental group improved from 54.44 to 17 and the control group improved from 52.57 to 13.40 for the VAS and from 23.72 to 8 for the experimental group and from 20.7 to 11.00 for the control group for the ODI respectively. The results from the experimental group were compared to results from similar studies to obtain an indication of results achieved versus those achieved in developed countries. In conclusion, the VAS and ODI results achieved by the South African subjects were equal to or better than those achieved by patients in developed countries.