Randomised controlled trial for evaluation of fitness programme for patients with chronic low back pain

Abstract Objective: To evaluate a progressive fitness programme for patients with chronic low back pain. Design: Single blind randomised controlled trial. Assessments were carried out before and after treatment by an observer blinded to the study and included a battery of validated measures. All patients were followed up by postal questionnaire six months after treatment. Setting: Physiotherapy department of orthopaedic hospital. Subjects: 81 patients with chronic low back pain referred from orthopaedic consultants for physiotherapy. The patients were randomly allocated to a fitness programme or control group. Intervention: Both groups were taught specific exercises to carry out at home and referred to a back-school for education in back care. Patients allocated to the fitness class attended eight exercise classes over four weeks in addition to the home programme and backschool. Results: Significant differences between the groups were shown in the changes before and after treatment in scores on the Oswestry low back pain disability index (P