Abstract
Background
Moderately vigorous physical activity (PA) may be beneficial for people with sub-acute low back pain (LBP), but may initially be painful for patients and challenging for physical therapists to facilitate.
Objectives
This study investigated motivational interviewing (MI) delivered by physical therapists and a smartphone app for increasing PA in people with LBP.
Methods
A mixed methods cluster randomised controlled trial involving 46 adults with LBP in Melbourne, Australia. Participants attended weekly 30-min physical therapy consultations for 6 weeks. Experimental group physical therapists were taught to embed MI into consultations and patients were provided with a self-directed app. The primary outcome was accelerometer-derived moderately vigorous PA. Secondary outcomes were LBP disability (Oswestry Disability Index), functional capacity (Patient Specific Functional Scale), and self-efficacy (Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire). Between-group differences were analysed by ANCOVA post-intervention.
Results
There was no statistically significant difference between the experimental group and control group for PA. Between-group differences in LBP disability (MD= 19.4 units, 95% CI: 8.5, 30.3), functional capacity (primary MD= −4.1 units, 95% CI: −6.9, −1.3; average MD= −3.1, 95% CI: −4.9, −1.2) and self-efficacy (MD −11.3 units, 95%CI −20.2 to −2.5) favoured the control group with small to moderate effect sizes. There were low levels of overall engagement with the app.
Conclusion
The embedded MI intervention was no more beneficial than physical therapy alone for PA and was associated with poorer LBP disability, function, and self-efficacy. The effectiveness of embedding MI and a smartphone app into usual care for LBP was not supported.
Keywords: Low back pain; Motivational interviewing; Randomised controlled trial; Smartphone application, app
Moderately vigorous physical activity (PA) may be beneficial for people with sub-acute low back pain (LBP), but may initially be painful for patients and challenging for physical therapists to facilitate.
Objectives
This study investigated motivational interviewing (MI) delivered by physical therapists and a smartphone app for increasing PA in people with LBP.
Methods
A mixed methods cluster randomised controlled trial involving 46 adults with LBP in Melbourne, Australia. Participants attended weekly 30-min physical therapy consultations for 6 weeks. Experimental group physical therapists were taught to embed MI into consultations and patients were provided with a self-directed app. The primary outcome was accelerometer-derived moderately vigorous PA. Secondary outcomes were LBP disability (Oswestry Disability Index), functional capacity (Patient Specific Functional Scale), and self-efficacy (Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire). Between-group differences were analysed by ANCOVA post-intervention.
Results
There was no statistically significant difference between the experimental group and control group for PA. Between-group differences in LBP disability (MD= 19.4 units, 95% CI: 8.5, 30.3), functional capacity (primary MD= −4.1 units, 95% CI: −6.9, −1.3; average MD= −3.1, 95% CI: −4.9, −1.2) and self-efficacy (MD −11.3 units, 95%CI −20.2 to −2.5) favoured the control group with small to moderate effect sizes. There were low levels of overall engagement with the app.
Conclusion
The embedded MI intervention was no more beneficial than physical therapy alone for PA and was associated with poorer LBP disability, function, and self-efficacy. The effectiveness of embedding MI and a smartphone app into usual care for LBP was not supported.
Keywords: Low back pain; Motivational interviewing; Randomised controlled trial; Smartphone application, app
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 101091 |
| Journal | Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 16 Jun 2024 |