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158 APPENDICES Physiotherapy KCE reports vol.40
Table 9 Acute low back pain: treatment modalities applied by Belgian ambulatory physiotherapists and evidence-based literature
Treatment modality
Frequency
(proportion
± accuracy)
Home exercises 62 ± 6%
Stretching 55 ± 6%
Thermotherapy 46 ± 6%
Muscle strengthening 44 ± 6%
Type of
evidence
? Evidence
for ?
(moderate to
strong)
Evidence for
(moderate to
strong)
Evidence for
(weak)
Evidence for
(moderate to
strong)
Evidence available in the literature on physiotherapy of acute low back pain (LBP)
Adopted under the term Exercise therapy (COST B13 Working Group 2004).
There is a moderate to strong evidence supporting a positive but modest short-term effect
of exercise therapy. There is no clear evidence on the type of exercises that should be
recommended. Although low intensity exercises seem ineffective, there is no clear evidence on
the frequency, duration and intensity of exercises that should be recommended.
Adopted under the term Exercise therapy (COST B13 Working Group 2004).
There is a moderate to strong evidence supporting a positive but modest short-term effect
of exercise therapy. There is no clear evidence on the type of exercises that should be
recommended. Although low intensity exercises seem ineffective, there is no clear evidence on
the frequency, duration and intensity of exercises that should be recommended.
Stretching exercises may improve pain and function.
There is weak evidence that heat therapy in patients with acute and subacute low back
pain slightly reduce pain and disability at short-term.
There is no evidence available for or against the effectiveness of cold therapy.
Adopted under the term Exercise therapy (COST B13 Working Group 2004).
There is a moderate to strong evidence supporting a positive but modest short-term effect
of exercise therapy. There is no clear evidence on the type of exercises that should be
recommended. Although low intensity exercises seem ineffective, there is no clear evidence on
the frequency, duration and intensity of exercises that should be recommended.
Although muscle strengthening is a common component of exercise programmes, it is no
more effective than other types of exercises.
Muscle strengthening may improve pain and function.