Low back pain patients' perspectives on long-term adherence to home-based exercise programmes in physiotherapy.

BACKGROUND

Adherence to an exercise programme impacts the outcome of physiotherapy treatment in patients with non-specific low back pain.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to explore the patients' perspectives on long term adherence to such exercise programmes.

DESIGN

This qualitative study was embedded in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) which compared the effectiveness of two types of exercise programme on patients with nonspecific low back pain.

METHODS

Answers from 44 participants to three open-ended questions were analysed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS/FINDINGS: Patients' perceptions related to the following themes: 1) the role of knowledge in long-term exercise adherence; 2) strategies to support exercise adherence; 3) barriers to exercise adherence 4) the role of perceived effects of exercise.

CONCLUSIONS

Adherence to long-term exercise is supported through knowledge of the exercises and correct performance. A self-initiated training strategy is the most successful in the perception of participants. Individually supervised physiotherapy treatment that includes coaching towards strategies for post-treatment long term exercise behaviour is recommended.