Aquatic and Land Exercises for Chronic Low Back Pain

NCT06874881 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: NARS01072024
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to learn about the effects of aquatic and land exercises on managing chronic low back pain in adults aged 18-65. The participants engage in a 12-week supervised land and water-based exercise program. The main questions this study aims to answer are:

• How effective are aquatic exercises on low back pain, functional disability, Kinesiophobia, sleep quality, and overall quality of life?
• Is aquatic therapy more effective than land exercises for treating LBP or vice versa?

Conditions

Chronic Low Back Pain (Non-specific, Uncomplicated)

Keywords

Chronic low back pain; Aquatic therapy; Hydrotherapy; Water-based exercise; Exercise intervention; Land Exercise; Quality of life; Rehabilitation research; Functional Disability

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Pain Intensity

  Pain intensity is measured by the Numerical Pain Rating Scale where the participants will report their pain as 0 (no pain) and 10(worst imaginable pain).

  Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).

• Functional Disability

  Functional disability is assessed by the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, a 24-item self-reported measure evaluating the impact of low back pain on daily activities.

  Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Health-Related Quality of Life

  Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).

• Sleep Quality

  Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).

• Kinesiophobia (Fear of Movement-Related to Pain)

  Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).

• Dynamic Balace Performance

  Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).

• Hamstring Flexibility

  Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).

Study Arms (2)

Aquatic Exercise Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The aquatic exercise session is approximately 45-60 minutes, thrice a week, for twelve weeks, 36 sessions total. They are supervised by an experienced researcher who is a qualified Physiotherapist. The one-hour session generally includes a warm-up, the main exercise session, and a cool-down period. The exercises include balance and agility training, cardio exercises, flexibility, upper and lower limb stretching and strengthening exercises, trunk rotations, etc. Additionally, the group receives back care education involving guidelines and recommendations for adopting good posture, self-management, and active lifestyle advice each week of the intervention. Also, the participants are given a participant education handbook containing all the information and resources about LBP.

Other: Aquatic Exercises

Land Exercise Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The land exercise group will follow the same structured protocol as the aquatic exercise group regarding duration, frequency, and intensity.

Other: Land Exercises

Interventions

Aquatic Exercises OTHER

The aquatic exercise intervention consists of structured, supervised, water-based exercises designed and delivered by an experienced physiotherapist specifically for individuals with chronic low back pain. Sessions are conducted in a temperature-controlled swimming pool with proper warm-up and cool-down. The intervention follows a progressive intensity approach with easy, medium, and hard approaches.

Also known as: Aquatic Physical Therapy, Hydrotherapy, Water-Based Exercises, Aquatic Therapy, Pool-Based Rehabilitation, Aquatic Physiotherapy, Aquatic Rehabilitation, Therapeutic Water Exercise

Aquatic Exercise Group

Land Exercises OTHER

The land-based exercise intervention mirrors the aquatic exercise protocol regarding exercise type, duration, frequency, and progression but is performed on land.

Also known as: Land-Based Exercise Therapy, Physiotherapy-Based Exercise, Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Program, Therapeutic Exercise Routine

Land Exercise Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age between 18 and 65
• Both Genders
• Literate in the English language to understand instructions/ to complete a self-report questionnaire.
• Having non-specific Chronic low back pain (≥12 weeks)
• Patient willingness to be a part of any randomly selected treatment groups.

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnant Females
• If they had low back pain as the result of diagnosis of severe osteoporosis, spinal bone disorders such as spondylosis and spondylolisthesis, fractures, lumbar spine stenosis, lower limb joint replacement surgery, hip orthosis, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, infective or inflammatory disease, compression of the radial nerve, meningitis, arthrosis, lumbar region tumours, Leg length discrepancy, previous back surgery.
• Uncontrolled hypertension, Severe postural hypotension, any heart disease like Left heart failure or exercise-induced angina. Medical illnesses without a medical managing plan in place, e.g., uncontrolled epilepsy, diabetes mellitus. Neurologic deficit, open wounds, current or recurrent radiation treatment.
• Patients with severe depression and psychosis
• People who are already participating in an individually-prescribed exercise programme for LBP.
• Aquatic exercises /Pool specific:
• Individuals with hydrophobia/ water-related anxiety, or inability to adapt to an aquatic environment.
• Allergy to chlorine, Severe limiting airway disease
• Faecal or urinary incontinence, diarrhoea, and vomiting.
• Weight more than the emergency evacuation manual handling risk assessment.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Edinburgh: lead

Study Sites (1)

St. Leonard building, The University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh, EH8 8AQ, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Hydrotherapy; Aquatic Therapy

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Physical Therapy Modalities; Therapeutics; Rehabilitation

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Parallel-group, Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) design

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 7, 2025
• First Posted: March 13, 2025
• Study Start: March 6, 2025
• Primary Completion: November 28, 2025
• Study Completion: November 28, 2025
• Last Updated: December 2, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)