Treatment targets of exercise for persistent non-specific low back pain: a consensus study
Open accessAbstract
Objectives Despite several hundred previous randomised controlled trials (RCTs), the key treatment targets of exercise for persistent non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) remain unclear. This study aimed to generate consensus about the key treatment targets of exercise interventions for patients with NSLBP.Design Consensus was generated using modified nominal group technique in two, sequential, workshops. The results of a previous systematic review informed the first, national, workshop idea generation and the results of this workshop informed the second, international, workshop. The authors generated a starting list of 30 treatment targets from the systematic review. A pre-specified consensus threshold of 75% was used in the voting stage.Participants Workshop participants included people with experience of using exercise to manage their persistent NSLBP, clinicians who prescribe exercise for persistent NSLBP, and researchers who design and evaluate exercise interventions in RCTs. All participants generated, voted and ranked the treatment targets in each workshop using an online platform.Results A total of 39 participants contributed to the consensus (15 in the national workshop and 24 in the international workshop), comprising two people with NSLBP, six clinicians and 31 researchers/clinicians. A total of 40 exercise treatment targets were generated, and 25 were retained after voting and ranking. The prioritised targets of exercise for persistent NSLBP were: improving function, improving quality of life, reducing pain, meeting patient-specific goals and reducing fear of movement.Conclusions Future RCTs of exercise should specify the targets of their exercise intervention and consider assessing these treatment targets as well as including mediation analyses.
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The clinical outcomes assessed are consistent with consensus based treatment targets of exercise for people with chronic, non-specific low back pain.
“These clinical outcomes are also consistent with the consensus based treatment targets of exercise for people with chronic, non-specific LBP: to improve function, improve quality of life, reduce pain, meet patient specific goals, and reduce fear of movement.104”
From Psychological interventions for chronic, non-specific low back pain: systematic review with network meta-analysis (2022) · cites this paper as [104]
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- Authors
- Wood, L., Bishop, A., Lewis, M., Smeets, R. J. E. M., Bronfort, G., Hayden, J. A., & Foster, N. E.
- Affiliations
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (GB)
- Arthritis UK (GB)
- Maastricht University (NL)
- Dalhousie University (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Wood, Lianne
- Venue
- Physiotherapy
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-09
- Volume
- 112
- Pages
- 78-86
- ISSN
- 0031-9406 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3138358269
- Cited by
- 24
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 4
- FWCI
- 2.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- Locations
- Physiotherapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Keele Research Repository (Keele University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- NIHR
- Keele University
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Pregnancy-related medical research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Spine and Intervertebral Disc Pathology
- Keywords
- non-specific low back pain, exercise intervention, treatment goals, exercise prescription, consensus, analgesia, quality of life, kinesiophobia, functional improvement, mediation analysis
- MeSH terms
- Back Pain, Exercise Therapy, Humans, Exercise, Low Back Pain
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