Related Experiment Videos
Enhancing function in older adults with chronic low back pain: a pilot study of endurance training
Maura D Iversen1, Anne H Fossel, Jeffrey N Katz
1Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Studies, Simmons College, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Objectives:
To assess the effectiveness of a bicycle endurance program in older adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and to identify correlates of exercise adherence.
Design:
Prospective cohort.
Setting:
Residential facilities and a tertiary care hospital.
Participants:
Adults with CLBP aged 55 years and older. Of 29 subjects who agreed to participate, 3 (10%) were deemed ineligible at baseline. Nineteen subjects (73%) were women, and the median age was 72 years.
Interventions:
Subjects were assessed at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks by using standardized questionnaires, physical examination, and endurance testing by a physical therapist. Subjects received a bicycle and instructions to exercise 3 times a week for 12 weeks at a set wattage. A trained rescarcher collected exercise data weekly. Main outcome measures The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), the lumbar spinal stenosis symptom severity and function scales, and kilocalories were used to assess change.
Results:
At baseline, subjects were moderately impaired (mean SF-36 physical function score, 52.6). Eighteen (65%) completed the trial. At 12 weeks, physical functioning (SF-36) improved by 11%, mental health (Mental Health Inventory 5-Item Questionnaire) improved by 14%, and CLBP symptoms decreased by 8%. Reasons for withdrawing included illness, family issues, and bicycle-related discomfort.
Conclusions:
The bicycle program was safe and effective for improving functional status and well-being.