Evaluation of effectiveness of different home exercise program approaches in patients with low back pain

Low back pain is one of more common health problems in developing countries. It is indicated that compliance to home exercise is inadequate in patients with low back pain. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of two different home exercise program approaches on exercise compliance to exercise, pain, health-related quality of life and disability levels. Seventy two cases assigned to two groups which consisted of visual training and following by telephone, by randomized sample method. Home exercise programs started simultaneously with the physiotherapy program. All measurements were done before, after treatment and after four weeks follow-up. The cases in both groups were similar for exercise compliance at first four and second four weeks and total 8 weeks (p>0.05). It was found that, the scores of Modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire, Nottingham Health Profile? s subscales and Mc Gill Short Form Pain Questionnaire?s subscales decreased significantly, when after treatment and follow up compared to before treatment (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the visual training group and following by telephone group in the scores of Modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire, Nottingham Health Profile? s subscales and Mc Gill Short Form Pain Questionnaire?s subscales before treatment, after treatment and at the end of 8 weeks (p> 0.05). As a conclusion, both two home exercise program approaches (visual training and following by telephone) have similar positive effects on exercise compliance, pain, disability and quality of life in patients with low back pain. It was observed that, two different home exercise approaches affected positively patients? compliance. In the future it was needed more comprehensive research which included long follow-up periods.