Effectiveness of an Exercise-based Telerehabilitation Program for Police Officers and Firefighters With Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain: a Randomized Clinical Trial
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Chronic Low-back Pain
- Sponsor
- Federal University of Pelotas
- Enrollment
- 66
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Pain Intensity at post-treatment follow-up
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 2 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The aim of this clinical trial is to develop and test the effectiveness of a smartphone app-based self-management program based on exercise and pain education for police officers and firefighters with chronic low back pain.
Detailed Description
Low back pain is the leading cause of year lived with disability worldwide. Workers exposed to physically demanding activities and inappropriate postures, such as those performed by police officers and firefighters, are highly affected by chronic low back pain. Smartphone app-based self-managed interventions have been shown to be an alternative for chronic non-specific low back pain treatment. However, there is still little research on the development and testing of remotely-delivered programs for the management of chronic low back pain, especially in police and fire professionals. The aim of this clinical trial is to develop and test the effectiveness of a smartphone app-based self-management program based on exercise and pain education for police officers and firefighters with chronic low back pain.
Investigators
Cristine Lima Alberton
PhD
Federal University of Pelotas
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Aged between 18 and 60 years
- •Chronic low back pain (defined as pain lasting more than 12 weeks)
- •Chronic low back pain of at least 3 points in a 0 to 10 Pain Numerical Rating Scale
- •Own a smartphone with internet access and email account
- •Police officer (federal, federal highway, civil or military) or military firefighter working in the State of Rio Grande do Sul
Exclusion Criteria
- •Present neurological symptoms (nerve root compromise, or sensation deficits)
- •Present serious spinal diseases (e.g., fracture, tumor, inflammatory, autoimmune, and infectious diseases)
- •Present serious cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (e.g., coronary heart disease, cardiac insufficiency, decompensated diabetes)
- •Recent spine surgery (over the last 12 months) or scheduled to undergo surgery in the next six months, or pregnancy
- •History of physical therapy treatment for low back pain or physical exercise (strength training for core muscles, Pilates, yoga) current or within the last 3 months
- •If have any contraindication to exercise:
- •We will perform a pre-screening for physical activity participation at baseline using the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) Portuguese version to rule out any contraindication to participate in physical activity
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Pain Intensity at post-treatment follow-up
Time Frame: Post-treatment follow-up (8 weeks)
The primary outcome will be pain intensity measured using the Pain Numerical Rating Scale, a numerical scale of 11 domains, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates maximum pain intensity.
Disability at post-treatment follow-up
Time Frame: Post-treatment follow-up (8 weeks)
The primary outcome will be disability measured using the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire, a 24-item questionnaire that assesses normal activities of daily living, where a higher score indicating a higher level of disability.
Secondary Outcomes
- Disability at 4 months follow-up(4 months follow-up)
- Health-Related Quality of Life(The outcome will be evaluated after the treatment period (8 weeks) and after 4 months of randomization of each subject.)
- Depression, Anxiety and Stress(The outcome will be evaluated after the treatment period (8 weeks) and after 4 months of randomization of each subject.)
- Sleep quality(The outcome will be evaluated after the treatment period (8 weeks) and after 4 months of randomization of each subject.)
- Muscular activation of flexor and extensor muscles(The outcome will be evaluated after the treatment period (8 weeks).)
- Isometric muscular endurance of the trunk extensor(The outcome will be evaluated after the treatment period (8 weeks).)
- Pain intensity at 4 months follow-up(4 months follow-up)
- Self-efficacy(The outcome will be evaluated after the treatment period (8 weeks) and after 4 months of randomization of each subject.)
- Work ability(The outcome will be evaluated after the treatment period (8 weeks) and after 4 months of randomization of each subject.)
- Adverse Effects(The outcome will be evaluated after the treatment period (8 weeks) and after 4 months of randomization of each subject.)
- Maximum isometric strength of the trunk extensor and flexor muscles(The outcome will be evaluated after the treatment period (8 weeks).)
- Isometric muscular endurance of the trunk flexors(The outcome will be evaluated after the treatment period (8 weeks).)