Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38704535›Full record

ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2024

Disability reduction following a lumbar stabilization exercise program for low back pain: large vs. small improvement subgroup analyses of physical and psychological variables.

Christian Larivière, Richard Preuss, Marie-France Coutu, Michael J Sullivan, Nicolas Roy, Sharon M Henry

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Deep learning for predicting lumbar segmental instability using neutral lateral lumbar radiographs: a retrospective study.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Christian LarivièreInstitut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), 505, boul. De Maisonneuve Ouest, Montreal, QC, H3A 3C2, Canada. larchr@irsst.qc.ca.
Richard PreussSchool of Physical & Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 845 Sherbrooke Wst, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y5, Canada.
Marie-France CoutuCharles-Le Moyne Hospital Research Centre, University of Sherbrooke, 150 Place Charles-Le Moyne, Office 200, Longueuil, QC, J4K 0A8, Canada.
Michael J SullivanDepartment of Psychology, McGill University, 1205 Docteur Penfield, Montreal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada.
Nicolas RoyCenter for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR), 6363, Hudson Road, office 061, Montreal, QC, H3S 1M9, Canada.
Sharon M HenryDepartment of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05401, USA.

Funding

Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail 2010-0022 and 2016-0013
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLittle is known about why patients with low back pain (LBP) respond differently to treatment, and more specifically, to a lumbar stabilization exercise program. As a first step toward answering this question, the present study evaluates how subgroups of patients who demonstrate large and small clinical improvements differ in terms of physical and psychological changes during treatment.

methodsParticipants (n = 110) performed the exercise program (clinical sessions and home exercises) over eight weeks, with 100 retained at six-month follow-up. Physical measures (lumbar segmental instability, motor control impairments, range of motion, trunk muscle endurance and physical performance tests) were collected twice (baseline, end of treatment), while psychological measures (fear-avoidance beliefs, pain catastrophizing, psychological distress, illness perceptions, outcome expectations) were collected at four time points (baseline, mid-treatment, end of treatment, follow-up). The participants were divided into three subgroups (large, moderate and small clinical improvements) based on the change of perceived disability scores. ANOVA for repeated measure compared well-contrasted subgroups (large vs. small improvement) at different times to test for SUBGROUP × TIME interactions.

resultsStatistically significant interactions were observed for several physical and psychological measures. In all these interactions, the large- and small-improvement subgroups were equivalent at baseline, but the large-improvement subgroup showed more improvements over time compared to the small-improvement subgroup. For psychological measures only (fear-avoidance beliefs, pain catastrophizing, illness perceptions), between-group differences reached moderate to strong effect sizes, at the end of treatment and follow-up.

conclusionsThe large-improvement subgroup showed more improvement than the small-improvement subgroup with regard to physical factors typically targeted by this specific exercise program as well as for psychological factors that are known to influence clinical outcomes.

Indexed as

CatastrophizationDisability EvaluationExercise TherapyLow Back PainAdultFearFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansLumbar VertebraeMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementRange of Motion, ArticularTreatment OutcomeLumbar stability exercise programPhysical testsPsychological measuresSubgroup analysesTreatment response

Identifiers

PMID38704535
PMCPMC11069239

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.