Abstract
Background and purpose
Sleep disturbance is a prevalent symptom in people with chronic low back pain (CLBP >12 weeks), but there is currently no knowledge of the effectiveness of physiotherapy for this problem. This study evaluated the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) exploring the effects of physiotherapy on sleep disturbance in CLBP [Current controlled trial ISRCTN 54009836].
Methods
A sample of 60 consenting patients with CLBP [23 M, 37 F; mean (SD) age = 44.93 (13.41) years] were recruited in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin and randomly allocated to one of three groups [supervised exercise class (SEC), walking programme (WP) and usual physiotherapy (UP)] in a concealed manner. The main outcomes were sleep quality, functional disability, pain, and quality of life at baseline, 3 and 6 months.
Results
The majority of participants reported sleep disturbance (95%, n=57) and related it to their LBP (81%, n=46). At 3 months compared with the WP and SEC, participants in the UP group displayed greater reductions in average low back pain VAS (WP d=.97, SEC d=.86) and greater improvements in sleep disturbance (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index WP d=.59, SEC d=.29; Insomnia Severity Index WP d= .56, SEC d= .24). However, compared to UP there were greater improvements in functional disability (SF-36 PCS) in the WP (d= .32) and the SEC (d= .21).
Conclusions
The results provide preliminary evidence of the effects of physiotherapy on sleep disturbance in CLBP, demonstrate the feasibility of undertaking a RCT in this field and inform refinement of the study protocol for a fully powered trial.
Conflicts of interest - None
Sources of funding - This study was funded by Health Research Board Partnership Grant 2007/16
This abstract has not been previously published in whole or substantial part nor has it been presented previously at a national meeting.
