Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2005 Nov 4:6:54.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-6-54.

The effect of motor control exercise versus placebo in patients with chronic low back pain [ACTRN012605000262606]

Chris G Maher  1 , Jane Latimer, Paul W Hodges, Kathryn M Refshauge, G Lorimer Moseley, Robert D Herbert, Leonardo O P Costa, James McAuley
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The effect of motor control exercise versus placebo in patients with chronic low back pain [ACTRN012605000262606]

Chris G Maher et al. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. .

Abstract

Background: While one in ten Australians suffer from chronic low back pain this condition remains extremely difficult to treat. Many contemporary treatments are of unknown value. One potentially useful therapy is the use of motor control exercise. This therapy has a biologically plausible effect, is readily available in primary care and it is of modest cost. However, to date, the efficacy of motor control exercise has not been established.

Methods: This paper describes the protocol for a clinical trial comparing the effects of motor control exercise versus placebo in the treatment of chronic non-specific low back pain. One hundred and fifty-four participants will be randomly allocated to receive an 8-week program of motor control exercise or placebo (detuned short wave and detuned ultrasound). Measures of outcomes will be obtained at follow-up appointments at 2, 6 and 12 months after randomisation. The primary outcomes are: pain, global perceived effect and patient-generated measure of disability at 2 months and recurrence at 12 months.

Discussion: This trial will be the first placebo-controlled trial of motor control exercise. The results will inform best practice for treating chronic low back pain and prevent its occurrence.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Bogduk N. Management of chronic low back pain. Medical Journal of Australia. 2004;180(2):79–83. - PubMed
    1. Waddell G. The Back Pain Revolution. Edinburg, Churchil Livingstone; 1998. The clinical course of low back pain.
    1. Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing National Health Priorities and Quality. 2003. http://www.health.gov.au/pq/index.htm
    1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare . Australia's health 2000: the seventh biennial health report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Camberra, AIHW; 2000.
    1. Australian Bureau of Statistics . National Health Survey. Summary of Results. Canberra, Australian Bureau of Statistics; 2002.

Publication types