Functional Exercises for Chronic Low Back Pain

Effectiveness of the Functional Exercises in Young Adults Chronic Low Back Pain: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Non-specific low back pain is a common condition. Exercise is effective treatment for chronic low back pain. We hypothesized the functional exercise group will present pain reduction and functional improvement.

The purpose of this study is investigated the effectiveness of an functional exercise program for people with nonspecific chronic low back pain. Patients will be randomly divided into 2 groups: control group (minimal intervention - mini back school and analgesic) and group will receive a functional exercise protocol associated with minimal intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged between 18 and 50 years
• Low back pain for more than 3 months
• Low back pain with numeric pain scale between 3 - 8 cm
• Understand Portuguese well enough to be able to fill in the questionnaires

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inflammatory/rheumatological diseases, tumor, infection or vertebral fracture;
• Main pain as leg pain (eg: nerve root compression or herniated disc with radicular pain / radiculopathy, lateral and central stenosis)
• Less than 6 months after lumbar spine, lower limb or abdomen surgery
• Previous spinal surgery;
• Previous spinal infiltration for pain relief in the last 3 months;
• Several scoliosis;
• Litigation;
• Pregnancy;
• Fibromyalgia;
• People who had changed physical activity or undergone physical therapy in the previous 3 months;
• Presence of any contraindication to exercise;
• Planned travel in the next 12 weeks;
• Geographic inaccessibility.