A RANDOMIZED, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL OF EXERCISE THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE LOW-BACK-PAIN

To assess the efficacy of exercise therapy for acute low back pain, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial was performed in 40 Dutch general practices. Patients received either exercise instruction with advice for daily life by a physiotherapist; placebo ultrasound therapy by a p hysiotherapist; or usual care by the general practitioner. All patient s received analgesic agents and information on low back pain before ra ndomization. Four hundred seventy-three patients were included. No dif ferences in number of recurrences, functional health status, or medica l care usage could be found among the three groups. In the exercise gr oup, duration of recurrences was shorter and patients were less tired during the first 3 months than in the usual care group, but no differe nces were found between the exercise and placebo groups. It was conclu ded that exercise therapy for patients with acute low back pain has no advantage over usual care from the general practitioner.