Postural hygiene program to prevent low back pain.

STUDY

DESIGN

A quasi-experimental study with 3 x 4 design was performed.

OBJECTIVE

To improve the level of knowledge and motor skills and thereby avert the development of painful symptoms.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Despite the fact that low back pain affects a high percentage of the population, little research has been carried out to prevent low back pain through health education.

METHODS

The participants in this study were 106 third-grade (9-year-old) students. The program included 11 sessions. The teacher attended the placebo group sessions. No intervention was used with the control group.

RESULTS

The level of knowledge and motor skills in the experimental group showed a significant increase immediately after the intervention finished, and at 6- and 12-month intervals after completion of the postural hygiene program (P = 0.00). Some positive changes were generalized to natural situations (P = 0.00). In an independent health check carried out by the local school health services 4 years after application of the postural hygiene program, the results tended slightly to favor the experimental condition over the control conditions (placebo + no intervention). A greater number of the control subjects required medical treatment for low back pain, although this difference was only marginally significant (P = 0.07).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings from this study support the hypothesis that programs involving practice and motivating strategies impart health knowledge and habits more efficiently than those restricted to the mere transmission of information.