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Effectiveness of walking versus mind-body therapies in chronic low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of recent randomized controlled trials.

Medicine
January 1, 1970
Ildephonse Nduwimana et al. (4 authors)
Comparative StudyJournal ArticleMeta-AnalysisSystematic ReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to compare the effectiveness of walking and mind-body therapies (MBTs) in relieving pain and improving function in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Results Summary

Walking was as effective as control interventions in the short term and slightly superior in the intermediate term for pain relief and reducing activity limitation. Yoga (a type of MBT) showed greater short-term effectiveness but lost superiority at the 6-month follow-up.

Population

Adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (11)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Walking
no change
pain
adults with CLBP
-
was as effective as control interventions
#1
Walking
no change
activity limitation
adults with CLBP
-
was as effective as control interventions
#2
Walking
decrease
pain
adults with CLBP
SMD = -0.34; 95% CI, -0.65 to -0.03; P = .03
slightly superior
#3
Walking
decrease
activity limitation
adults with CLBP
SMD = -0.30; 95% CI, -0.50 to -0.10; P = .003
slightly superior
#4
yoga
decrease
pain
adults with CLBP
SMD = -1.47; 95% CI, -2.26 to -0.68; P = .0003
more effective than control interventions
#5
yoga
decrease
activity limitation
adults with CLBP
SMD = -1.17; 95% CI, -1.80 to -0.55; P = .0002
more effective than control interventions
#6
yoga
no change
pain
adults with CLBP
-
no longer superior to the control interventions
#7
MBTs, especially yoga
decrease
pain
patients with CLBP
-
more effective in the short term
#8
MBTs, especially yoga
decrease
activity limitation
patients with CLBP
-
more effective in the short term
#9
walking
decrease
pain
patients with CLBP
-
more effective in the intermediate term
#10
walking
decrease
activity limitation
patients with CLBP
-
more effective in the intermediate term
#11
Abstract

PURPOSE: Walking and mind-body therapies (MBTs) are commonly recommended to relieve pain and improve function in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of walking and MBTs in CLBP. METHODS: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing walking or MBTs to any other intervention or control in adults with CLBP. Studies were identified through PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases. The research was limited to studies published in English and French between January 2008 and December 2018. Two reviewers independently selected the studies, extracted data, and assessed studies quality using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Statistical analyses were performed under a random-effects model. We analyzed pain and activity limitation, with the calculation of standardized mean differences and 95% confidence intervals for the different treatment effects. RESULTS: Thirty one randomized controlled trials involving 3193 participants were analyzed. Walking was as effective as control interventions in the short-term and slightly superior in the intermediate term with respect to pain (Standardized mean differences (SMD)  = -0.34; 95% CI, -0.65 to -0.03; P = .03) and activity limitation (SMD = -0.30; 95% CI, -0.50 to -0.10; P = .003). In contrast, yoga was more effective than control interventions in the short term in terms of pain (SMD = -1.47; 95% CI, -2.26 to -0.68; P = .0003) and activity limitation (SMD = -1.17; 95% CI, -1.80 to -0.55; P = .0002). Yoga was no longer superior to the control interventions for pain at the 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: MBTs, especially yoga, seem to be more effective in the short term, and walking seems to be more effective in the intermediate term, for the relief of pain and activity limitation in patients with CLBP. A combination of walking and MBTs fits the biopsychosocial model and might be valuable therapy for CLBP throughout follow-up due to combined effects.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Chronic PainHumansLow Back PainMind-Body TherapiesRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicWalking
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality85/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations12
Citations/Year2.4
Relative Citation Ratio1.35
NIH Percentile61.4%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score1.74
Normalized Score0.67
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