NCT06423755

Swimming Versus Standard Physiotherapy Care as Rehabilitation Modalities for Persistent Low Back Pain: Feasibility Study

Swimming Versus Standard Physiotherapy Care as Rehabilitation Modalities for Persistent Low Back Pain: A Feasibility Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 32 (actual)
• Sponsor: Canterbury Christ Church University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Study four: A small scale RCT will be conducted to pilot the swimming lessons developed in study three, to compare the lessons to standard physiotherapy care and to assess the feasibility of conducting a large RCT in the future. The results from this feasibility study will give the researcher some initial feedback on the swimming lessons and will inform and support the development of an RCT in the future; if the initial findings are positive. This will include whether an RCT can be carried out and evaluating recruitment and retention rates, willingness to be randomised, adverse events, outcomes, acceptability and cost analysis.

Detailed description

Low back pain is very common; globally it is the number one cause of disability. National guidelines recommend exercise for the management of back pain; swimming is frequently advised despite little supporting evidence. Swimming is considered to be low impact and might target conditions associated with back pain such as obesity, inactivity, and depression. Swimming lessons are not funded by the NHS, many adults cannot swim and there are no guidelines regarding what type of swimming program to recommend. This multi-phase mixed methods research project aims to develop a swimming class to be used as a form of rehabilitation for persistent low back pain. There are many barriers to exercise and this can affect uptake and adherence; Study 1 will be an online survey finding out what stops and what encourages people with back pain to go swimming. Some people already use swimming to manage back pain; in Study 2, individuals who use swimming to manage back pain will be interviewed to explore their experience including discussion about swimming stroke and adaptations. The swimming class will be developed in Study 3 using the data from Study 1 and 2 and by consulting physiotherapists, swimming teachers, and patients, through a series of surveys, known as the Delphi method. Study 4 will be a feasibility study; comparing the swimming class developed in Study 3 over 3 weeks to standard physiotherapy care. Data will be collected on the running of the study, outcomes including function and quality of life, with further follow up at on completion of the trial and 6 months. These studies will be carried out at East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust and the Hotel Burstin swimming pool; people with back pain for more than 3 months would be eligible to take part.

Conditions

• Chronic Low-back Pain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Swimming programme	A session plan will be followed, which included aims, objectives, learning outcomes and suggested core aquatic skills and swimming activities under each section. The session will consist of a session brief, a warmup, core aquatic skills, swimming strokes (front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, and hybrid strokes), a cool down and a session debrief; following the guidance developed in study three.
OTHER	Standard Physiotherapy care	Treatment delivered by the physiotherapist could include exercise, advice, education, and manual therapy; they will be offered up to 6 sessions.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-09-01
• Primary completion: 2022-10-01
• Completion: 2022-10-01
• First posted: 2024-05-21
• Last updated: 2024-05-21

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United Kingdom