Investigation of the Outcomes of the Person-Centered Lifestyle Redesign in Individuals With Chronic Low Back Pain

Low back pain is the most common musculoskeletal disorder worldwide; 70-80% of the adult population experiences this condition at some point in their lives. It is considered a leading cause of workforce loss and years lived with functional disability, and it ranks among the top five most frequent diagnoses in primary healthcare. Chronic low back pain is a significant public health problem globally, associated with substantial discomfort, disability, medical costs, and economic burden.

Chronic low back pain can severely reduce quality of life and has a significant comorbidity with mental health; therefore, it not only restricts an individual's physical activities and daily tasks but also negatively impacts psychological well-being, leading to higher levels of subclinical depression and anxiety. Non-surgical treatment options for chronic low back pain include pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies.

Within the pharmacological approach, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids are commonly prescribed. Despite their therapeutic efficacy, this approach has significant drawbacks. It provides limited improvement in pain and functional limitations for most patients, which is frustrating. Furthermore, the long-term use of NSAIDs and opioids can cause serious side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding, arterial thrombosis, addiction, and mental dysfunction.

While non-pharmacological therapies individually have positive effects, there is a lack of conclusive evidence supporting the superiority of one approach over others. Consequently, the treatment process should be tailored to the needs of the individual with chronic low back pain, and it appears that combined therapies addressing the individual holistically are needed to achieve effective results. The biopsychosocial approach to treating chronic pain considers biological, psychological, and social factors. Clinical guidelines for chronic low back pain have shown a shift towards the biopsychosocial model. This can provide clinicians with some insights into additional areas to consider in their patients' treatment.

Lifestyle risk factors such as excess weight, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and smoking play a role in the development of low back pain. Studies suggest that addressing such lifestyle factors can improve outcomes in low back pain, including disability. Despite evidence suggesting the potential benefits of interventions targeting these lifestyle factors, only one randomized controlled trial has been conducted for patients with chronic low back pain. This study found no effect, largely due to insufficient adherence to the treatment.