Use the Back button in your browser to see the other results of your search or to select another record.

Detailed Search Results

Neuromuscular exercise and counseling decrease absenteeism due to low back pain in young conscripts: a randomized, population-based primary prevention study [with consumer summary]
Suni JH, Taanila H, Mattila VM, Ohrankammen O, Vuorinen P, Pihlajamaki H, Parkkari J
Spine 2013 Mar 1;38(5):375-384
clinical trial
5/10 [Eligibility criteria: Yes; Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: No; Baseline comparability: Yes; Blind subjects: No; Blind therapists: No; Blind assessors: No; Adequate follow-up: No; Intention-to-treat analysis: Yes; Between-group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: Yes. Note: Eligibility criteria item does not contribute to total score] *This score has been confirmed*

STUDY DESIGN: Controlled intervention with group randomization. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of a 6-month neuromuscular exercise (NME) and counseling program for reducing the incidence of low back pain (LBP) and disability in young conscripts with a healthy back at the beginning of their compulsory military service. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Basic military training is physically demanding on the back and requires adequate physical fitness. LBP causes significant morbidity and absence from military service. METHODS: Participants were conscripts of four successive age cohorts (n = 1,409). In the pre-study year, before adoption of the intervention, two successive cohorts of conscripts of four companies (n = 719) were followed prospectively for 6 months to study the baseline incidence of different categories of LBP. In the intervention year, conscripts (n = 690) of two new cohorts of the same companies (intervention group: anti-tank, engineer; control group: signal, mortar) were followed for 6 months. The intervention program aimed to improve conscripts' control of their lumbar neutral zone (NZ), and specifically to avoid full lumbar flexion in all daily tasks. RESULTS: Total number and incidence of off-duty days due to LBP were significantly decreased in the intervention companies compared to controls (adjusted hazard ratio 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.18 to 0.94, p = 0.035). The number of LBP cases, number of health clinic visits due to LBP, and number of the most severe cases showed a similar decreasing trend, but without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide evidence that exercise and education to improve control of the lumbar NZ have a prophylactic effect on LPB-related off-duty service days in the military environment when implemented as part of military service among young healthy men.
For more information on this journal, please visit http://www.lww.com.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help