Abstract
Vad VB, Bhat AL, Tarabichi Y. The role of the Back Rx exercise program in diskogenic low back pain: a prospective randomized trial.
Objective
To determine the efficacy of the Back Rx program in patients with diskogenic low back pain (LBP).
Design
Prospective, randomized study.
Setting
Outpatient setting of a major university teaching hospital.
Participants
Subjects with LBP greater than leg pain for at least 3 months duration and magnetic
resonance imaging evidence of disk pathology. Fifty of 87 eligible patients consented
and were randomized into age- and sex-matched groups.
Interventions
Group I participated in the Back Rx program for 15 minutes a day, 3 times a week. All patients, from both groups, received
celecoxib (200mg) and hydrocodone (5mg) with acetaminophen (500mg) as needed, and
wore a lumbar cryobrace for 15 minutes before bedtime.
Main Outcome Measures
Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire score, numeric pain rating score, patient satisfaction
score, measured forward flexion, use of celecoxib, hydrocodone, and acetaminophen,
time off work, and rate of symptom recurrence.
Results
At minimal 12-month follow-up, 70% of group I reported over 50% pain reduction with
good or better patient satisfaction, compared with 33% in group II (P=.001). Average daily hydrocodone and acetaminophen use and time off work were less
for group I (all, P<.05). Recurrence of symptoms at the end of the year was less for group I (P=.001).
Conclusions
Back Rx exercises, combined with use of a lumbar cryobrace and oral medications, yielded
superior therapeutic results than with use of medications and cryobrace alone. Also
significant was the reduced rate of recurrence in these patients.
Key Words
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Article info
Footnotes
A commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has conferred or will confer a financial benefit upon 1 or more of the authors. Vad is the author of Back Rx. All proceeds from this book go to back pain research.
Reprints are not available from the author.
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
