Pain and disability in low back injured individuals participating in a physical fitness program

LeFort, Sandra Mary (1989) Pain and disability in low back injured individuals participating in a physical fitness program. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in (a) components of physical fitness, and (b) self-reports of pain, disability and three psychological variables (mood, self-esteem, and state/trait anxiety) in 43 subjects with either acute or chronic low back pain who completed at least 8 weeks in a group physical fitness program in a fitness facility. A within-subjects repeated measures design was employed with each subject serving as his/her own control. Results from MANOVA analyses indicated significant improvement over the 8-week period in both cardiorespiratory aerobic fitness and muscular strength. Concurrently, significant improvements were found in self-reports of pain intensity, pain-related disability, state anxiety and the vigor subscale of mood. Taken as a whole, the results suggest that participation in a structured physical fitness program may play a role in the management of idiopathic low back pain. -- Key Words: acute low back pain; chronic low back pain; aerobic exercise; self-esteem; anxiety; mood; disability; Workers' Compensation.

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