Disease-Specific Knowledge, Physical Activity, and Physical Functioning Examination among Patients with Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 23;19(19):12024. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191912024.

Abstract

Physical activity, physical functioning, and pain are some of the most critical factors of low back pain (LBP) treatment and prevention, but it was unknown that the back school program (BSP) influences the physical activity level of the patients with LBP. Data from 306 healthy patients and patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (cnsLBP) were used. We used the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), the Low Back Pain Knowledge Questionnaire (LKQ), the visual analog scale, and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). The significance level was set at p < 0.05. The amount of sedentary time in cnsLBP patients enrolled in the BSP was significantly lower compared to the other two groups (p < 0.001). Significantly higher moderate-intensity activities, leisure time activities, and active transportation were observed in the cnsLBP patients enrolled in the BSP than in the other two groups (p < 0.001). RMDQ scores and the pain intensity of the cnsLBP patients enrolled in the BSP were significantly lower than in patients with LBP receiving only exercise therapy (p < 0.001). The physical activity level and low-back-pain-specific knowledge was significantly higher, while back-related disability and pain intensity were significantly lower among patients with low back pain syndrome who participated in a back school program.

Keywords: back school; chronic non-specific low back pain; physical activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chronic Pain* / therapy
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Exercise
  • Exercise Therapy
  • Humans
  • Low Back Pain* / therapy
  • Pain Measurement
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the ÚNKP-22-4-II-PTE-1681 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund. The APC was funded by the Thematic Excellence Program 2021 Health Sub-programme of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology in Hungary, within the framework of the EGA-10 project of the University of Pécs. The authors declare that the funding sources did not have any role in the study design, in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, or in writing and submitting this manuscript.