Article

A meta-analysis of relevant cohort studies was performed to
investigate the efficacy of aerobic exercise for the treatment of patients with
chronic low back pain (CLBP). METHOD: A range of electronic databases were
searched: MEDLINE (1966-2013), the Cochrane Library Database (issue 12, 2013),
EMBASE (1980-2013), CINAHL (1982-2013), Web of Science (1945~2013), and the
Chinese Biomedical Database (1982-2013), without language restrictions. The
Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire,
the McGill Pain Questionnaire, visual analog scale, and heart rate, sit-and-reach
test, and maximum oxygen consumption were used to evaluate the efficacy of
aerobic exercise. Meta-analysis was performed with the use of the STATA
statistical software. The standardized mean difference (SMD) with its
corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated. Eight clinical cohort
studies with a total of 310 CLBP patients were included in the meta-analysis.
RESULTS: The results of this meta-analysis indicated that CLBP patients exhibited
positive decreases in scores on the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (SMD,
0.44; 95% CI, 0.20-0.68; P < 0.001), Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (SMD,
1.03; 95% CI, 0.67-1.39; P < 0.001), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (SMD,
1.35; 95% CI, 0.34-2.37; P = 0.009), and McGill Pain Questionnaire (SMD, 0.32;
95% CI, 0.07-0.56; P = 0.011) after aerobic exercise. It was also observed that
aerobic exercise could markedly reduce the visual analog scale score for pain of
CLBP patients (SMD, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.48-1.02; P < 0.001). Nevertheless, this
study's findings showed that aerobic exercise had no effects on heart rate,
sit-and-reach test, and maximum oxygen consumption of CLBP patients (all P >
0.05). CONCLUSION: The current meta-analysis provides reliable evidence that
aerobic exercise could effectively diminish pain intensity and improve the
physical and psychologic functioning of CLBP patients. Thus, aerobic exercise may
be a good choice in the treatment for CLBP.

Langue : ANGLAIS