Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Background: Low Back Pain (LBP) presents a global health challenge. Physical activity (PA) is a standard component of LBP management. The maintenance of long-term PA adherence in LBP patients remains complex.
Aim: This works aim is to give an overview over which behavior change techniques (BCTs) are used in a rehabilitation program in patients with LBP and which long term effects (>6 months) this had on the participants.
Method: Guidelines from Cochrane for systematic review of interventions and the Swedish “Statens beredning för medicinsk och social utvärdering” guided the systematic review. The PICO scheme framed the inclusion criteria: LBP patients who underwent a rehabilitation program in which PA was measured at least at baseline and after 6 months. PubMed and CINAHLplus were search for RCTs. The interventions content was labelled according to the BCTTV1 taxonomy, outcome measurements and their psychometric properties as well as the measured effects are presented.
Results: Interventions were movement coaching, pedometer, PA sessions, graded activity, and digital methods. Common BCTs included goal setting, providing health-related information, feedback on outcomes, prompts, and self-monitoring.
Outcome measurements involved PA, disability and pain. Although different outcome measurements were employed, PA questionnaires demonstrated limited, disability and pain measurements displayed acceptable validity and reliability. The majority of interventions did not result in significant differences in PA outcomes when compared to control groups or other interventions after six months.
Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for future research with a detailed descriptions of interventions and development of valid PA measurements for LBP patients.
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