The Effects of Lifestyle Intervention for Hypertension on Low Back Pain

In Brief Study Design. Randomized controlled trial. Objective. To assess the effects of a lifestyle intervention for hypertension on low back pain. Summary of Background Data. According to prospective etiologic studies, a causal association exists between certain lifestyle factors and low back pain. These factors are similar to those that elevate the risk for hypertension. Nevertheless, no randomized controlled trial has assessed effectiveness of lifestyle intervention for the treatment of hypertension on the prevalence of low back pain. Methods. A total of 731 hypertensive employees from 45 worksites were assigned to multidisciplinary lifestyle interventions for hypertension in a rehabilitation center or to routine care in occupational or primary healthcare services during 12 months. Questionnaire data on low back pain were used to assess the effects of the intervention on the extent of low back pain and disability. Results. The changes in prevalence and duration of low back pain, and related disability did not differ between the 2 groups, although there were favorable changes in some risk factors, such as body weight and physical inactivity. Subgroup analyses among patients with moderately heavy or heavy work showed that the prevalence of low back pain during the previous 12 months decreased more in the intervention than in the control group. Conclusion. Multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention aimed to reduce hypertension is not effective at reducing prevalence of low back pain or disability. However, in thesubgroup of persons doing moderate or heavy work, the intervention seemed to reduce prevalence of low back pain during the 1-year follow-up. Low back pain and disability were assessed in a randomized controlled lifestyle intervention trial focused on hypertension. Despite the positive effects on hypertension and some other risk factors common to cardiovascular diseases and low back pain, the intervention was not sufficient to produce any substantial effect on low back pain and their associated disability.