A recent study published in JAMA Network Open found that a combination of healthy lifestyle management alongside guideline-based care resulted in minimal improvements in chronic low back pain compared to guideline-based care alone. Low back pain is a significant public health issue, with the World Health Organization ranking it as the leading cause of disability worldwide. Despite the prevalence of low back pain, there is limited evidence to support lifestyle interventions for its treatment.
The study, called the HeLP trial, focused on addressing lifestyle risk factors such as obesity, smoking, poor diet, and physical inactivity in patients with chronic low back pain. The trial compared the outcomes of patients who received the HeLP intervention, which included lifestyle education and support, with those who received standard guideline-based care.
After 26 weeks of follow-up, researchers found that integrating healthy lifestyle into care for low back pain resulted in a small improvement in disability, weight reduction, and improved physical quality of life. However, there were no significant differences in pain intensity, mental quality of life, or smoking status between the two groups.
The results of this study provide important evidence for the potential benefits of lifestyle interventions in the treatment of low back pain. While the World Health Organization currently does not recommend lifestyle interventions for low back pain due to insufficient evidence, further research in this area could offer new approaches for managing this common condition and reducing its associated disability burden.
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