Which specific modes of exercise training are most effective for treating low back pain? Network meta-analysis

Patrick J Owen; Clint T Miller; Niamh L Mundell; Simone J J M Verswijveren; Scott D Tagliaferri; Helena Brisby; Steven J Bowe; Daniel L Belavy

doi:10.1136/bjsports-2019-100886

Which specific modes of exercise training are most effective for treating low back pain? Network meta-analysis

Br J Sports Med. 2020 Nov;54(21):1279-1287. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2019-100886. Epub 2019 Oct 30.

Authors

Patrick J Owen¹, Clint T Miller¹, Niamh L Mundell¹, Simone J J M Verswijveren¹, Scott D Tagliaferri¹, Helena Brisby², Steven J Bowe³, Daniel L Belavy⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
² Department of Orthopaedics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
³ Faculty of Health, Biostatistics Unit, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
⁴ Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia belavy@gmail.com.

Abstract

Objective: Examine the effectiveness of specific modes of exercise training in non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP).

Design: Network meta-analysis (NMA).

Data sources: MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, EMBASE, CENTRAL.

Eligibility criteria: Exercise training randomised controlled/clinical trials in adults with NSCLBP.

Results: Among 9543 records, 89 studies (patients=5578) were eligible for qualitative synthesis and 70 (pain), 63 (physical function), 16 (mental health) and 4 (trunk muscle strength) for NMA. The NMA consistency model revealed that the following exercise training modalities had the highest probability (surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA)) of being best when compared with true control: Pilates for pain (SUCRA=100%; pooled standardised mean difference (95% CI): -1.86 (-2.54 to -1.19)), resistance (SUCRA=80%; -1.14 (-1.71 to -0.56)) and stabilisation/motor control (SUCRA=80%; -1.13 (-1.53 to -0.74)) for physical function and resistance (SUCRA=80%; -1.26 (-2.10 to -0.41)) and aerobic (SUCRA=80%; -1.18 (-2.20 to -0.15)) for mental health. True control was most likely (SUCRA≤10%) to be the worst treatment for all outcomes, followed by therapist hands-off control for pain (SUCRA=10%; 0.09 (-0.71 to 0.89)) and physical function (SUCRA=20%; -0.31 (-0.94 to 0.32)) and therapist hands-on control for mental health (SUCRA=20%; -0.31 (-1.31 to 0.70)). Stretching and McKenzie exercise effect sizes did not differ to true control for pain or function (p>0.095; SUCRA<40%). NMA was not possible for trunk muscle endurance or analgesic medication. The quality of the synthesised evidence was low according to Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation criteria.

Summary/conclusion: There is low quality evidence that Pilates, stabilisation/motor control, resistance training and aerobic exercise training are the most effective treatments, pending outcome of interest, for adults with NSCLBP. Exercise training may also be more effective than therapist hands-on treatment. Heterogeneity among studies and the fact that there are few studies with low risk of bias are both limitations.

Keywords: analgesics; behavioural symptoms; catastrophization; physical activity; physical therapy modalities; rehabilitation; spine.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Review

MeSH terms

Adult
Exercise
Exercise Movement Techniques
Exercise Therapy / methods*
Humans
Low Back Pain / physiopathology
Low Back Pain / therapy*
Muscle Strength / physiology
Muscle Stretching Exercises
Network Meta-Analysis
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Resistance Training