Effects of an intervention based on the Transtheoretical Model on back muscle endurance, physical function and pain in rice farmers with chronic low back pain
Affiliations: [a] Division of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand | [b] Research and Training Center for Enhancing Quality of Life of Working-Age People, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Nomjit Nualnetr, Division of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand. Tel./Fax: +66 (0) 4320 2085; E-mail:nomjit@kku.ac.th
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain (LBP) can be managed by exercises
which should be tailored to an individual's readiness to behavioral change. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of an intervention program based
on the Transtheoretical Model of behavioral change (TTM) on back muscle
endurance, physical function and pain in rice farmers with chronic LBP. METHODS: In a 32-week study, 126 rice farmers were allocated to the
TTM (n= 62) and non-TTM (n= 64) groups. Modified Biering-Sorensen test,
Oswestry Disability Questionnaire and visual analogue scale were used for
evaluating back muscle endurance, physical function and severity of pain,
respectively. The evaluations were performed at baseline and at weeks 8, 20
and 32 of the study. Data were analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA. RESULTS: The back muscle endurance was significantly greater in the
TTM group than in the non-TTM group at week 32 (p= 0.025). Physical function
and severity of pain were significantly improved in the TTM group when
compared with the non-TTM group at weeks 20 and 32 (p< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: A TTM-based intervention could improve back muscle
endurance and physical function, and reduce the pain in rice farmers with
LBP. Further studies should be considered to explore the long-term effects
of this intervention.
Keywords: Low back pain, farmers, Transtheoretical Model, exercise, health promotion
