physioscience 2025; 21(S 03): S21
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1812396
Abstracts
Präsentationen/Presentations
PS 11

Personalized vs. non-personalized training for physical functioning in NSLBP: a protocol

Authors

  • A M Aegerter

    1   Universität Luzern, Universitäres Forschungszentrum Gesundheit und Gesellschaft, Luzern, Switzerland

  • T Gisler

    1   Universität Luzern, Universitäres Forschungszentrum Gesundheit und Gesellschaft, Luzern, Switzerland

  • H Luomajoki

    2   ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Institut für Physiotherapie, Departement Gesundheit, Winterthur, Switzerland

  • D Lehnick

    3   Universität Luzern, Fakultät für Gesundheitswissenschaften und Medizin, Luzern, Switzerland

  • I Frank

    4   Luzerner Kantonsspital, Zentrum für Klinische Forschung, Luzern, Switzerland

  • G Stucki

    1   Universität Luzern, Universitäres Forschungszentrum Gesundheit und Gesellschaft, Luzern, Switzerland
    5   Schweizer Paraplegiker-Forschung, Nottwil, Switzerland

  • C Perret

    1   Universität Luzern, Universitäres Forschungszentrum Gesundheit und Gesellschaft, Luzern, Switzerland
    5   Schweizer Paraplegiker-Forschung, Nottwil, Switzerland
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Background Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is among the most common musculoskeletal disorders, significantly impairing physical well-being, reducing quality of life, and limiting physical functioning. Despite its considerable burden on individuals and society, the most effective, appropriate, and cost-efficient treatment strategies remain unclear. This randomized controlled trial (RCT), scheduled to commence in 2025, aims to fill this gap by investigating whether a personalized approach – specifically, a personalized physical back training program – can effectively alleviate NSLBP.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of a personalized physical back training program, compared to a non-personalized physical back training program, on self-rated physical functioning in individuals with NSLBP.

Methods This RCT is part of the Lucerne Initiative for Functioning, Health and Well-being (LIFE). To be eligible, participants must have experienced activity-limiting NSLBP for at least 6 weeks. A total of 180 participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group 1 will receive a personalized physical back training program, with exercises selected through a clinical reasoning process. Group 2 will receive a non-personalized physical back training program, with exercises not selected through a clinical reasoning process. Both groups will perform exercises from the same set. Participants will train for 1 hour per week: 30 minutes in a mixed group session with participants from both groups, and the remaining time individually using a smartphone application. The primary outcome, self-rated physical functioning, will be measured using the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (0–100). Secondary outcomes include pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale 0–10), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), and the number of (serious) adverse events. Follow-up measurements will take place at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The primary outcome will be analysed using an ANCOVA model.

Results Not applicable.

Conclusion In this RCT, we standardize the training environment and isolate the clinical reasoning process to improve group comparability and address key limitations in prior research. This approach aims to clarify whether personalized exercises – currently standard and resource-intensive – are truly essential for effectively treating NSLBP. The findings could advance clinical practice and health policy by providing evidence-based solutions for managing NSLBP, potentially reducing high costs and resource demands of existing treatments.



Publication History

Article published online:
23 October 2025

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