Author(s): ESPIN, A., IRAZUSTA, J.1, RUIZ-FERNÁNDEZ, A.1, MARTÍN-PÉREZ, A.1, ACEDO, K.2, RODRIGUEZ-LARRAD, A.1, Institution: UNIVERSITY OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY (UPV-EHU), Country: SPAIN, Abstract-ID: 2265

INTRODUCTION:
Although benefits of exercise on low back pain (LBP) have been demonstrated, most evidence is limited to short-term effects, and videoconference-supervised interventions are lacking. Therefore, our primary aim was to assess the effects of videoconference-supervised exercise on the LBP of eldercare workers, a population with high prevalence of this disorder. We also included additional pain sites, psycho-affective parameters, muscle performance and sick leave as secondary outcomes.
METHODS:
130 eldercare workers were randomised to a control (CG, n=65) or experimental (EG, n=65) group. Both groups participated in workplace prevention programs, and the EG received an additional 12-week exercise intervention, consisting of progressive moderate-intensity resistance exercises. The intervention was followed by advice to continue exercising until a 48-week follow-up. Assessments were done at baseline, 12 and 48 weeks. Primary outcome was LBP, measured by a 0-10 scale. Secondary outcomes included: neck, shoulder and hand/wrist pain (0-10 scale), pain medication (days), happiness (Lyubomirsky’s scale), anxiety and depression (Goldberg’s scale), quality of life (EuroQol-5D), sleep quality (single-item scale), hypnotic/anxiolytic medication (days), lower-limb (5-repetition sit-to-stand), upper-limb (kneeling push-up) and trunk (Shirado-Ito flexor) muscle performance, and sick leave (days). Group-by-time ANCOVA was used to assess intervention effects, and both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP, adherence ≥50%) analyses were done. Significance was set at p<0.05.
RESULTS:
At 12 weeks, ITT showed a beneficial effect on LBP (p=0.034), as well as on hand/wrist pain (p=0.023) and upper-limb muscle performance (p=0.040). PP demonstrated additional benefits in depression (p=0.021), quality of life (p=0.002), hypnotic/anxiolytic medication (p=0.011) and lower-limb (p=0.026) and trunk (p=0.030) muscle performance. At 48 weeks, ITT showed a loss of the beneficial effect on LBP, as well as on hand/wrist pain and upper-limb muscle performance. However, a reduction in hypnotic/anxiolytic medication was observed (p=0.006). Moreover, PP demonstrated additional benefits on depression (p=0.033), trunk muscle performance (p=0.049) and sick leave (p=0.013).
CONCLUSION:
The intervention reduced the LBP of eldercare workers at short-term. However, despite the advice to continue exercising, this improvement was not maintained at long-term. Additional benefits were observed in hand/wrist pain and upper limb muscle performance at short-term, as well as in hypnotic/anxiolytic medication use at long-term. Moreover, workers with higher adherence to the intervention had additional benefits in psycho-affective parameters and sick leave. This study provides new evidence on an alternative, feasible and effective exercise modality to reduce LBP in eldercare workers. However, advice to continue exercising was not able to maintain most of the benefits obtained.