title: The effect of group-exercising on females with non-specific chronic low back pain in a sitting position: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of active group-exercising on women with non specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) in a sitting position.
  
  
  METHODS
  25 females with NSCLBP underwent 8 group sitting-exercise sessions of a 45 minute duration, over an 8 week period. Pain intensity (VAS), back specific disability (Rolland Morris questionnaire-RMQ), and lumbar flexion and extension ranges of motion were measured twice, for reliability tests and cut-off score values, with a 1 week interval between measurements, prior to intervention and subsequently, six weeks following intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several significant changes in outcome measures were indicated following intervention compared with baseline (p < 0.001): an increase in lumbar flexion and extension (mean differences of 6° for flexion and 4° for extension, cutoff score = 5.91°); reduction in VAS score (mean difference=4.21, cutoff score =4.48); an increase in RMQ total score (mean difference=10.76, cutoff score=8.15). Changes in the VAS score was highly correlated with changes in the RMQ score (r=- 6.35).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A functional program of group-exercising conducted in a sitting position, improved the functional, painful status and lumbar ranges of motion in the sagittal plane of women suffering from non specific chronic low back pain. As sitting is considered the most common posture in today's workplace, applying this protocol during working hours would be very effective.
authors.affiliation: Maccabi Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Noa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beladev
authors.forename: Youssef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masharawi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome