Is exercise therapy effective treatment for low back pain?

Authors

Christine Broszko, Eglin Air Force Base Family Medicine Residency, FL.
Krystyna Golden, Eglin Air Force Base Family Medicine Residency, FL.
Cody R. Holmes, Eglin Air Force Base Family Medicine Residency, FL.
Stephanie Fulleborn, Eglin Air Force Base Family Medicine Residency, FL.
Carolyn Biglow, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA.
Richard Guthmann, Advocate Aurora HealthFollow

Recommended Citation

Broszko C, Golden K, Holmes CR, Fulleborn S, Biglow C, Guthmann R. Is exercise therapy effective treatment for low back pain?. J Fam Pract. 2021;70(8):E2-E3. doi:10.12788/jfp.0291

Affiliations

Advocate Illinois Masonic Family Medicine Residency

Abstract

Yes, it is somewhat effective. Exercise therapy-including general exercise, yoga, Pilates, and motor control exercise-has been shown to modestly decrease pain in chronic low back pain (LBP); levels of benefit in short- (≤ 3 months) and long- (≥ 1 year) term follow-up range from 4% to 15% improvement (strength of recommendation [SOR] A, based on a systematic review of randomized controlled trials [RCTs]).Exercise therapy may improve function and decrease work disability in subacute and chronic LBP, respectively (SOR A, based on a meta-analysis of RCTs). Exercise therapy has not been associated with improvement in acute LBP (SOR A, based on a meta-analysis of RCTs).

Document Type

Article

PubMed ID

34818181