• Ilana Shnayderman and Michal Katz-Leurer.
• Department of Physiotherapy, Maccabi Healthcare Services in Lod, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
• Clin Rehabil. 2013 Mar 1;27(3):207-14.

ObjectiveTo assess the effect of aerobic walking training as compared to active training, which includes muscle strengthening, on functional abilities among patients with chronic low back pain.DesignRandomized controlled clinical trial with blind assessors.SettingOutpatient clinic.SubjectsFifty-two sedentary patients, aged 18-65 years with chronic low back pain. Patients who were post surgery, post trauma, with cardiovascular problems, and with oncological disease were excluded.InterventionExperimental 'walking' group: moderate intense treadmill walking; control 'exercise' group: specific low back exercise; both, twice a week for six weeks.Main MeasuresSix-minute walking test, Fear-Avoidance Belief Questionnaire, back and abdomen muscle endurance tests, Oswestry Disability Questionnaire, Low Back Pain Functional Scale (LBPFS).ResultsSignificant improvements were noted in all outcome measures in both groups with non-significant difference between groups. The mean distance in metres covered during 6 minutes increased by 70.7 (95% confidence interval (CI) 12.3-127.7) in the 'walking' group and by 43.8 (95% CI 19.6-68.0) in the 'exercise' group. The trunk flexor endurance test showed significant improvement in both groups, increasing by 0.6 (95% CI 0.0-1.1) in the 'walking' group and by 1.1 (95% CI 0.3-1.8) in the 'exercise' group.ConclusionsA six-week walk training programme was as effective as six weeks of specific strengthening exercises programme for the low back.

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