Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41531636›Full record

ArticleCureus2025

The Effect of Seated Elliptical Exercise on Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Alireza Ebrahimi, Atta Taseh, Hannah McLeod, Kendal Toy, George R Malik, Alec L Meleger, Zacharia Isaac, Soheil Ashkani-Esfahani

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

8 authors.

Alireza EbrahimiDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Foot and Ankle Research and Innovation Laboratory (FARIL), Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
Atta TasehDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Foot and Ankle Research and Innovation Laboratory (FARIL), Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
Hannah McLeodDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Foot and Ankle Research and Innovation Laboratory (FARIL), Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
Kendal ToyDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Foot and Ankle Research and Innovation Laboratory (FARIL), Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
George R MalikDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
Alec L MelegerDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
Zacharia IsaacDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
Soheil Ashkani-EsfahaniDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Foot and Ankle Research and Innovation Laboratory (FARIL), Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLow back pain (LBP) is a prevalent health problem affecting a large portion of the population at some point in their lives, particularly with the increase in sedentary lifestyles, leading to significant disability and healthcare costs. This study evaluates the efficacy of seated elliptical exercise on chronic LBP, hypothesizing that daily use over a period of six weeks can reduce pain levels and improve functional health measures as measured by the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS).

methodsA randomized controlled trial involving 54 participants with chronic LBP was conducted, comparing a six-week seated elliptical exercise plan plus standard care against standard care alone. Outcome measures included the PROMIS Pain Intensity, Pain Interference, and Global Physical and Mental Health scores.

resultsThe intervention group showed significant improvements in Pain Intensity (60.97±6.38 vs 57.41±6.98; P<0.001) and Pain Interference (62.61±7.10 vs 59.32±8.64; P<0.001), starting from the first week of exercise. While pain outcomes improved, no significant changes were observed in Global Physical and Mental Health measures.

conclusionSeated elliptical exercise might help reduce the pain in chronic LBP. This could be a promising intervention to relieve the pain or even prevent LBP, especially in individuals with a sedentary lifestyle.

Indexed as

home-based exerciselow back painphysical therapy rehabilitationseated exercisesedentary lifestyle

Identifiers

PMID41531636
PMCPMC12791172

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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.