Low Back Pain, Recurrent

The purpose of this study is to quantify Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE)-derived mechanical property biomarkers of the lumbar paraspinal musculature and associated myofascial tissue regions before and after the intervention.

Proposing ways to effectively counter chronic low back pain through non-drug intervention is a major public health issue due to the prevalence and health costs of this condition. The back school (BS) is based on spinal economics and a biomechanical model. A convergence of evidence indicates that this type of program does not bring any mid- or long-term benefit. Faced with this observation, a Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) has been developed based on a biopsychosocial model. Chronic low back pain is the consequence of a complex dynamic of multifactorial origin where the body lesion is no longer the only cause of the pain. Studies have shown that PNE has a positive effect on pain perception. One of the limitations of these studies is that they do not allow objective measurement of physical activity performed at a distance from a therapeutic program for patients who have benefited from these educational programs. Yet, physical activity is an essential variable in health and more specifically in the fight against pain in patients with chronic low back pain. The investigators believe that physical activity is a key factor in improving the condition of patients with chronic low back pain. Consequently, physical activity is an indicator of success but also a guarantee for a lasting effect of educational treatment. In order to measure this physical activity, the use of activity monitor (connected watch) developed in recent years now makes it possible to collect data in an ecological manner that is more objective than the data collected via self-questionnaires. The main objective of the study is to measure the effectiveness of a PNE on physical activity three months after the intervention compared to BS in patients with chronic low back pain receiving a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program. The secondary aims are to compare effectiveness of PNE versus BS on pain, quality of life, kinesiophobia, pain catastrophizing, central sensitization at 3 months and at one year after the intervention. In addition, an exploratory analysis will be conducted to determine predictors of physical activity maintenance. The investigators expect to observe greater physical activity in patients who have received a PNE program compared to the physical activity of patients who have completed an BS program.

Exercise therapy has been shown to be effective in decreasing pain and improving function for patients with recurrent low back pain (LBP). Research on the mechanisms that trigger and/or underlie the effects of exercise therapy on LBP problems is of critical importance for the prevention of recurring or persistence of this costly and common condition. One factor that seems to be crucial within this context is the dysfunction of the back muscles. Recent pioneering results have shown that individuals with recurring episodes of LBP have specific dysfunctions of these muscles (peripheral changes) and also dysfunctions at the cortical level (central changes). This work provides the foundation to take a fresh look at the interplay between peripheral and central aspects, and its potential involvement in exercise therapy. The current project will draw on this opportunity to address the following research questions: What are the immediate (after a single session) and the long-term effects (after 18 repeated sessions) of exercise training on: (1) back muscle structure; (2) back muscle function; (3) the structure of the brain; (4) and functional connectivity of the brain. This research project also aims to examine whether the effects are dependent on how the training was performed. Therefore a specific versus a general exercise program will be compared.

Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Impaired postural control is a key factor in the development and maintenance of LBP. Moreover, the prevalence of LBP is associated with impairments in diaphragm function, symptoms of dyspnea, and dysfunctional breathing. However, the association between LBP (and more specifically postural control) and hyperventilation remains unknown. The main objective of this project is to investigate whether the presence of recurrent non-specific LBP is related to the presence of hyperventilation, when classified either objectively by decreased carbon dioxide values (demonstrating hypocapnia) or by symptoms while showing normal carbon dioxide values. Moreover, the investigators will explore whether psychosocial factors play a role in this relation. Subsequently, the investigators will examine whether hyperventilation in LBP patients is related to impaired postural control, and more specifically to a decreased postural contribution of the diaphragm.