The influence of exercise on musculoskeletal disorders of the lumbar spine

Abstract

Aim: This review, through a survey of the relevant research, examines the role of exercise in the natural course of symptoms in the preventive category, as well as in acute, subacute, chronic and postoperative categories of low back pain. The purpose of this study was to examine the evidence for cause and effect relationships between exercise and acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain, as well as for any dose-response relations involved.

Methods: Computer database research and personal retrieval systems were used to locate the relevant literature.

Results: Exercise can be effective in preventing LBP (Category A). Specific exercise has not been found effective in treatment of acute LBP (Category B), but exercise can be effective in subacute and chronic LBP (Category C, D), especially for diminishing the effects of deconditioning. To attain the effects mentioned above the types of exercise are known except in the case of the prevention of LBP, but little is known about dose-response relationships; at best, semi quantitatively on the basis of just a few studies.

Conclusions: Given the demonstrated primary and/or secondary preventative effectiveness of exercise regarding LBP, the subjects who would most benefit from specific exercise have not yet been identified.