Abstract
Nassif H, Brosset N, Guillaume M, Delore-Milles E, Tafflet M, Buchholz F, Toussaint
J-F. Evaluation of a randomized controlled trial in the management of chronic lower
back pain in a French automotive industry: an observational study.
Objective
To evaluate a specific workplace intervention for the management of chronic lower
back pain among employees working in assembly positions in the automotive industry.
Design
Randomized controlled trial.
Setting
On site at the workplace of a French automotive manufacturer.
Participants
Subjects (N=75 volunteers) were recruited on site and randomly assigned to either
an experimental group (n=37) or a control group (n=38).
Intervention
The experimental group followed a supervised 60-minute session, 3 times per week,
of muscle strengthening, flexibility, and endurance training during 2 months. The
control group received no direct intervention. Evaluation took place at baseline,
2 months, and 6 months.
Main Outcome Measures
Pain related parameters were evaluated using validated questionnaires and scales translated
into French (Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale, Rolan Morris Disability Questionnaire,
Dallas Pain Questionnaire, and the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia). Perceived pain
intensity was evaluated using the numerical rating scale, and physical outcome measures
were evaluated using specific indicators (flexibility, Biering-Sorensen Test, Shirado
test). The multivariate analysis of variance, t test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used for statistical analysis.
Results
We observed a significant beneficial effect (P<.025) for the experimental group at 2 and 6 months in pain parameters, specific flexibility,
and in back functions, and a significant improvement at 6 months in the control group
for the perceived pain intensity, anterior flexion, flexibility of quadriceps, and
Dallas Pain Questionnaire's work recreational score. An increase in the practice of
physical activity outside the workplace was noted in both groups at 2 months but persisted
at 6 months for the experimental group.
Conclusions
This study reinforces the multiple health benefits of physical activity and physical
therapy modalities in the workplace by assisting individuals at risk who have chronic
LBP.
Key Words
List of Abbreviations:
CONT (control group), Danx-dep (impact of work on anxiety and depression symptoms), Ddaily (impact of pain on daily activity), Dsocial (impact of pain on social activity), Dwork-rec (impact of pain on work and recreational activity), EXP (experimental group), FFD (finger to floor distance), FTD (finger to tip of toes distance), HBD (heel-buttock distance), KTD (knee to table distance), LBP (lower back pain), MANOVA (multivariate analysis of variance), MSD (multiple skeletal defects), NRS (numerical rating scale), RMDQ (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Footnotes
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.
Identification
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© 2011 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
