• Emanuel Brunner, Amber De Herdt, Philippe Minguet, Se-Sergio Baldew, and Michel Probst.
• Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
• Disabil Rehabil. 2013 Jan 1;35(1):1-10.

PurposeThe primary purpose was to detect randomized controlled trials investigating cognitive behaviour therapy-based (CBT) treatments applied in acute/sub-acute low back pain (LBP). The secondary purpose was to analyse the methodological properties of the included studies, and to identify theory-based treatment strategies that are applicable for physiotherapists.MethodA systematic literature search was conducted using four databases. Risk of bias of included studies was assessed and the methodological properties summarized. In addition, content and treatment theory of detected CBT-based strategies were systematically analysed and classified into three distinctive concepts of CBT: operant, cognitive and respondent treatment. Finally, applicability of treatment strategies in physiotherapy practice was discussed.ResultsEight studies were included in the present systematic review. Half of the studies suffered from high risk of bias, and study characteristics varied in all domains of methodology, particularly in terms of treatment design and outcome measures. Graded activity, an operant treatment approach based on principles of operant conditioning, was identified as a CBT-based strategy with traceable theoretical justification that can be applied by physiotherapists.ConclusionOperant conditioning can be integrated in ambulant physiotherapy practice and is a promising CBT-based strategy for the prevention of chronic LBP.

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