A Pilot Study of the Effects of High-Intensity Aerobic Exercise Versus Passive Interventions on Pain, Disability, Psychological Strain, and Serum Cortisol Concentrations in People With Chronic Low Back Pain

• Published in: Physical therapy Vol. 87; no. 3; pp. 304 - 312
• Main Authors: Chatzitheodorou, Dimitris, Kabitsis, Chris, Malliou, Paraskevi, Mougios, Vassilis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Physical Therapy Association 01.03.2007; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adult; Aerobic exercises; Analysis of Variance; Back pain; Care and treatment; Chi-Square Distribution; Chronic Disease; Chronic illnesses; Disability; Disability Evaluation; Effectiveness; Exercise; Exercise Therapy - methods; Female; Fibromyalgia; Health aspects; Humans; Hydrocortisone - blood; Low back pain; Low Back Pain - blood; Low Back Pain - physiopathology; Low Back Pain - psychology; Low Back Pain - rehabilitation; Male; Musculoskeletal system; Pain - blood; Pain - physiopathology; Pain - prevention & control; Pain - psychology; Pain Measurement; Physical fitness; Pilot Projects; Psychological aspects; Psychology; Risk factors; Sensory perception; Stress, Psychological - blood; Stress, Psychological - physiopathology; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; United States
• ISSN: 0031-9023; 1538-6724
• DOI: 10.2522/ptj.20060080

Given the complex nature of chronic pain, the effects of high-intensity aerobic exercise on pain, disability, psychological strain, and serum cortisol concentrations in people with chronic low back pain were investigated. Twenty subjects receiving primary health care were randomly allocated into exercise and control groups. Subjects in the exercise group received a 12-week, high-intensity aerobic exercise program. Subjects in the control group received 12 weeks of passive modalities without any form of physical activity. Data analysis identified reductions in pain (41%, t(10)=8.51, P<.001), disability (31%, t(10)=7.32, P<.001), and psychological strain (35%, t(10)=7.09, P<.001) in subjects in the exercise group and no changes in subjects in the control group. High-intensity exercise failed to influence serum cortisol concentrations. Regular high-intensity aerobic exercise alleviated pain, disability, and psychological strain in subjects with chronic low back pain but did not improve serum cortisol concentrations.