[Adherence to a stability exercise program in patients with chronic low back pain]

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Clinical Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Chronic low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide.
• Therapeutic exercise is the most effective intervention for managing low back pain, improving both pain and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess adherence to a lumbar stability program in patients with chronic low back pain.
• To evaluate the impact of adherence on pain, function, and psychological factors.
• To determine predictors of adherence to therapeutic exercise.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study with 6-month follow-up.
• 31 patients with chronic low back pain participated in a lumbar stability program.
• Adherence was monitored via daily diaries; pain, function, anxiety, depression, and fear of avoidance were assessed using rating scales.

Main Results:

• Adherence rates ranged from 82-84% across three trimesters.
• Adherent patients demonstrated significantly faster and greater improvements in pain and function.
• No correlations were found between adherence and socio-demographic variables, depression, anxiety, or fear of avoidance.

Conclusions:

• All patients experienced significant improvements in pain and function by study end.
• Depression was associated with higher initial and final pain/disability scores but did not predict non-adherence.
• Therapeutic exercise adherence is crucial for optimal outcomes in chronic low back pain management.