Home therapies to improve disability, activity, and quality of life in military personnel with subacute low back pain: Secondary outcome analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is an urgent military health concern with implications for fitness, quality of life (QoL) and disability. Purpose: This secondary outcome analysis from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to determine if the addition of neuromuscular electrical stimulation core strength training (NMES) or progressive exercise (PEP)in conjunction with primary care management (PCM) was more effective than PCM alone. Methods: This randomized controlled trial (RCT assigned 128 service members to the three intervention groups. The outcomes included changes in perceived disability (Oswestry Disability Index), health-related quality of life (SF-12v2), pain during activity (Clinical Back Pain Questionnaire), and daily steps walked in service members with subacute LBP. Findings: Over a 9-week intervention, perceived disability, SF-12v2 physical component summary, and activity associated with pain improved in all groups. Home therapies were helpful to reduce perceived disability, QoL and pain during activity in service members with subacute LBP. Discussion: These non-pharmacological options provide other home-managed approaches for those in the subacute LBP phase.