Does wearing unstable shoes reduce low back pain and disability in nurses? A randomized controlled pilot study

Area of Science:

• Occupational health
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Rehabilitation science

Background:

• Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent issue among nurses, impacting their quality of life and work capacity.
• Traditional interventions for LBP may not always provide sufficient relief for all individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of unstable footwear in alleviating low back pain and disability among nurses.
• To assess the potential of unstable shoes as a novel therapeutic approach for occupational back pain.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 20 female registered nurses experiencing low back pain.
• Participants were assigned to either a control group or an intervention group, with the latter wearing unstable shoes for at least 36 hours per week for one month.
• Pain levels were measured using a visual analogue scale, and disability was assessed with the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire.

Main Results:

• The intervention group demonstrated statistically significant reductions in both pain and disability levels by weeks 4 and 6 compared to baseline.
• Specifically, pain levels decreased significantly (p < 0.001) and disability levels improved by 14.1% (p = 0.020) in the unstable shoe group.
• The control group showed no significant changes in pain or disability over the study period.

Conclusions:

• Wearing unstable shoes effectively reduced low back pain and disability in nurses.
• Unstable footwear presents a promising, non-invasive option that could be integrated into comprehensive back pain management and rehabilitation strategies for healthcare professionals.