Healthy Lifestyle Program (HeLP) for low back pain: protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Area of Science:

• Clinical Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Low back pain is a leading cause of disability globally.
• Lifestyle factors like obesity, inactivity, poor diet, and smoking exacerbate chronic low back pain.
• High-quality trials on lifestyle interventions for chronic low back pain are scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a Healthy Lifestyle Program (HeLP) for chronic low back pain.
• To determine if HeLP reduces disability compared to usual physiotherapy care.
• To assess the impact of HeLP on pain, quality of life, and smoking status.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial comparing HeLP to usual care.
• HeLP includes clinical consultations, educational resources, and health coaching.
• Participants with chronic low back pain and at least one risk factor were recruited.

Main Results:

• The study aims to determine the effectiveness of the HeLP intervention.
• Primary outcome is disability reduction at 26 weeks, measured by the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire.
• Secondary outcomes include pain intensity, weight, quality of life, and smoking status.

Conclusions:

• The HeLP intervention targets key modifiable lifestyle risk factors.
• This study will provide evidence on the efficacy of a comprehensive lifestyle program for chronic low back pain.
• Findings will inform clinical practice and public health strategies for managing low back pain.