The effect of exercise program on pain, daily living disability, and depression in chronic low back pain patients treated with epidural injections

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of exercise program on chronic low back pain, daily living disability and depression in chronic low back pain patients treated with epidural injections. Methods: The design of this study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest experiment. The sample was recruited among low back pain patients treated with epidural injections from an orthopedic specialty hospital. Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment group (n=25) or a comparison group (n=27). The treatment was a six week exercise program for low back pain. Data were collected from September to November 2011, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, x²-test, one-tailed t-test for independent samples, and Mann-Whitney U test using the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. Results: Patients in the treatment group reported statistically significantly lower levels of back pain on flexion and extension, less daily living disability, and less depression than those in the comparison group. Conclusion: The back pain relief exercise program could be an effective adjunct nursing intervention for low back pain patients treated with epidural injections.