Healthy Lifestyle Care vs Guideline-Based Care for Low Back Pain
Study Overview
This study compares a Healthy Lifestyle Program (HeLP) with standard care for managing low back pain.
Why It Matters
Living an unhealthy lifestyle may worsen low back pain, but it’s unclear if addressing these lifestyle issues improves patient results.
Study Goals
The goal was to see if HeLP helps reduce disability from low back pain better than traditional care.
Study Details
- Design: A randomized clinical trial in Australia from September 2017 to December 2020.
- Participants: 346 people with chronic low back pain and lifestyle risks (like being overweight or inactive).
- Interventions: Participants were split into two groups: HeLP and standard physiotherapy care.
- Duration: 6 months of support including physiotherapy, diet advice, and health coaching.
Main Findings
- Disability Improvement: HeLP showed a better reduction in disability scores after 26 weeks.
- Weight Loss: Participants in HeLP lost more weight compared to the control group.
- Quality of Life: HeLP participants reported better physical functioning.
Conclusion
Combining lifestyle management with standard care for chronic low back pain can lead to small but meaningful improvements in disability, weight, and quality of life, without causing harm. This approach may safely enhance health outcomes.
Clinical Implications
Incorporating lifestyle changes into treatment for chronic low back pain can provide additional health benefits beyond standard care.
Additional Resources
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