IRSST - Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail

Development of a Preliminary Clinical Prediction Rule for Identifying Patients with Non-acute Low Back Pain Who Respond Best to a Lumbar Stabilization Exercise Program

Abstract

For people with non-acute lower back pain, physical exercises can help reduce pain and disability, but the effects are fairly minimal. To improve the effectiveness of this type of therapy, exercise programs must be matched with patients who will benefit from them most.
In this study, the researchers will focus on a specific program that is gaining in credibility and popularity: lumbar stabilization exercises. They hope to develop a prediction rule that can be used in a clinical examination to identify patients most likely to respond well to the exercises.
The feasibility study will track 60 patients as they participate in the eight-week exercise program in physiotherapy clinics. At certain pre- and post-therapy intervals, the researchers will assess the degree of pain reported by the patients and their perceptions of disability. In addition, physical and neuromuscular examinations, as well as assessments of treatment compliance and other psychological variables, will be conducted before and after the program.
The study will produce a preliminary prediction rule to help clinicians identify patients most likely to respond well to the exercise program. Further studies will subsequently be done to confirm the clinical prediction rule.

Additional Information

Type: Project
Number: 2010-0022
Status: Completed
Year of completion: 2016
Research Field: Occupational Rehabilitation
Team:
  • Christian Larivière (IRSST)
  • Marie-France Coutu (Université de Sherbrooke)
  • Jean-Pierre Dumas (Université de Sherbrooke)
  • Dany Gagnon (Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay de Montréal)
  • Sharon Henry (Université du Vermont)
  • Richard Preuss (Université McGill)
  • Michael J.L. Sullivan (Université McGill)