Cited by 472Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitationSpine and Intervertebral Disc PathologyPregnancy-related medical research

Combined physiotherapy and education is efficacious for chronic low back pain

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Moseley, Lorimer·2002·Australian Journal of Physiotherapy

Abstract

Manual therapy, exercise and education target distinct aspects of chronic low back pain and probably have distinct effects. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of a combined physiotherapy treatment that comprised all of these strategies. By concealed randomisation, 57 chronic low back pain patients were allocated to either the four-week physiotherapy program or management as directed by their general practitioners. The dependent variables of interest were pain and disability. Assessors were blind to treatment group. Outcome data from 49 subjects (86%) showed a significant treatment effect. The physiotherapy program reduced pain and disability by a mean of 1.5/10 points on a numerical rating scale (95% CI 0.7 to 2.3) and 3.9 points on the 18-point Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (95% CI 2 to 5.8), respectively. The number needed to treat in order to gain a clinically meaningful change was 3 (95% CI 3 to 8) for pain, and 2 (95% CI 2 to 5) for disability. A treatment effect was maintained at one-year follow-up. The findings support the efficacy of combined physiotherapy treatment in producing symptomatic and functional change in moderately disabled chronic low back pain patients.

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Crossref · 10.1016/s0004-9514(14)60169-0

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  • Understanding pain decreases its threat value, which leads to more effective pain coping strategies.

    “Evidence shows that understanding pain decreases its threat value which, in turn, leads to more effective pain coping strategies [61,68].”

    From Best-evidence for the rehabilitation of chronic pain part 1: Pediatric pain (2019) · cites this paper as [61]

    The Introduction (page unavailable) says targeted education aims to change how patients conceptualise pain and reports improved pain cognitions and self-efficacy with related educational approaches. It does not say that understanding pain reduces its threat value or establish that this leads to more effective coping strategies. (LLM, conf=0.76)

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [17]17. Moseley GL, Hodges PW and Nicholas MK (2001): Intensive neurophysiology education is an active component of pain management programs. A blinded randomised controlled trial. Clinical Journal of Pain. (In press.)
  2. [18]18. Mulrow CD and Oxman AD (1999): Cochrane Collaboration Handbook. The Cochrane Library. Oxford: Update Software.

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Authors
Moseley, L.
Venue
Australian Journal of Physiotherapy
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2002
Volume
48
Issue
4
Pages
297-302
ISSN
0004-9514 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2110582693
Cited by
472
References
35
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 31 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 17
FWCI
3.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Australian Journal of Physiotherapy (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Spine and Intervertebral Disc Pathology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Pregnancy-related medical research
Keywords
chronic low back pain, physiotherapy, manual therapy, physical activity, patient education, pain, disability, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, number needed to treat, general practitioner management, treatment efficacy, long-term follow-up
MeSH terms
Adult, Chronic Disease, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pain Measurement, Patient Education as Topic, Time Factors, Treatment Outcome, Patient Satisfaction, Low Back Pain, Musculoskeletal Manipulations

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