At Lyon University Medical Center, back problems are the leading cause of sick leave. The course of lower back pain is usually relatively short (recovery occurs within 4 to 6 weeks in 90% of cases). However, about 5-10% develop chronic lower back pain. Although this is a relatively small group, the economic consequences are enormous (accounting for 70 to 80% of the total cost of lower back pain).

Nowadays, some very general training sessions are offered to workers at Lyon University Medical Center, irrespective of their lower back pain status. These very general training sessions are mostly preventive and primary in nature (like back school program) despite the fact that these people already have a history of lower back pain, the main risk factor of recurrence and chronic pain.

Since the 1980, some multidisciplinary functional restoration programs have been advised as a strategy for secondary and tertiary prevention of lower back pain.

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to assess the effectiveness of physical exercise combined with an educational program and self-led exercise for Lyon University Medical Center workers with lower back pain. We hope this intervention will reduce the risk of recurrence and chronic lower back pain.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All healthcare workers in the 4 hospital sites
• History of acute or subacute lower back pain in the 3 past years

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of surgery for spinal fractures
• History of lumbosacral arthrodesis
• History of surgical intervention or discal hernia, more than 2 levels or more than twice
• Radiculalgia with sign of motor deficit, or radiculalgia with a positive Lasègue sign
• Eligible for enrollement in a functional restoration program for lower back pain
• Ongoing low back pain (lumbago)
• Psychosocial or behavioural impairment
• Unstable cardiac disease
• Inability to fill out the questionnaires and scales (inability to understand French)
• Pregnancy