Cognitive functional approach for low back pain in rowers
Low back pain (LBP) is common amongst adolescent rowers, and has even been formerly acknowledged by the international rowing federation as a common cause for athletes to quit rowing. The following randomised controlled trial investigated the efficacy of a cognitive functional approach compared with usual care in a group of adolescent male rowers.
19 rowers were randomly allocated to the intervention group, consisting of a cognitive functional approach targeting cognitions, movement patterns, conditioning and lifestyle factors relative to each rower for 8 weeks. The remaining 17 rowers received usual care, consisting of rowing skills and conditioning exercises. The intervention group reported significantly less pain and disability during ergometer rowing at the end of the 8 weeks and at a 12-week follow up compared with the active control group. They also demonstrated greater lower limb endurance and improved lumbar spine extension whilst sitting.
These findings demonstrate the benefits of a cognitive functional approach in managing low back pain and disability amongst adolescent male rowers.
> From: Ng et al., Br J Sports Med (2015) (Epub ahead of print). All rights reserved to BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. . Click here for the Pubmed summary.
