Effectiveness of preventive back educational interventions for low back pain: a critical review of randomized controlled clinical trials

• Published in: European spine journal Vol. 21; no. 12; pp. 2520 - 2530
• Main Authors: Demoulin, C., Marty, M., Genevay, S., Vanderthommen, M., Mahieu, G., Henrotin, Y.
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.12.2012; Springer Nature B.V; Springer
• Subjects: Biomechanical Phenomena; Human health sciences; Humans; Low Back Pain - prevention & control; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurosurgery; Orthopedics, rehabilitation & sports medicine; Orthopédie, rééducation & médecine sportive; Patient Education as Topic - methods; Posture; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Research Design; Review; Review Article; Sciences de la santé humaine; Surgical Orthopedics; Prevention; Back school; Review; Education; Low back pain
• ISSN: 0940-6719; 1432-0932; 1432-0932
• DOI: 10.1007/s00586-012-2445-2

Purpose A systematic search was conducted to study the efficiency of preventive educational interventions mainly focused on a biomechanical/biomedical model. Methods The Pubmed electronic database and the Cochrane Library were searched based on a combination of keywords related to low back pain (LBP) and posture education. Only randomized controlled trial (RCT) studying the efficiency on outcomes directly related to LBP of a preventive intervention programme mainly based on education of proper care of the back for subjects not seeking treatment were included. References of the articles meeting these inclusion criteria were also checked to identify other potential citations. Besides, a methodological study assessment of the included RCTs was performed. Results Nine studies, all conducted at the workplace were included in this review. Their mean quality level was low (5.1/12) and among the four studies with a huge sample size ( n  > 400 subjects), only one had an acceptable methodological quality score (6/12). The education interventions differed widely from one study to another. No significant differences between the control and education groups were found at the follow-up in eight out of the nine studies on the incidence of back pain, disability and sick leave. Conclusions The results of the RCTs included in this review suggest that educational interventions mainly focused on a biomechanical/biomedical model are not effective in preventing LBP. However, taking into account the methodological quality level of the RCTs as well as the very short and heterogeneous interventions often proposed, additional high-quality studies with a longer education period are needed to conclude that such interventions are inefficient.