OBJECTIVE

To assess the duration of benefits on back pain and back extensor strength in women with osteoporosis who had previously participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving either exercise or wearing a spinal orthosis.

DESIGN

A 6-month postintervention follow-up of women who were involved in the interventions in the RCT.

SETTING

The study was conducted in a primary health care center in Stockholm, Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

In this follow-up study 31 women participated in the spinal orthosis group, and 31 women participated in the exercise group, with a median age of 76 years in both groups (N=62). All women were diagnosed as having osteoporosis, had back pain with or without vertebral fracture, and were 60 years or older, which were the inclusion criteria in the RCT.

INTERVENTIONS

The participants received no controlled supervision. The spinal orthosis group was asked to wear the orthosis, and the training group was asked to follow an exercise program for another 6 months voluntarily.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Back extensor strength was measured with a computerized device; back pain was estimated by the visual analog scale and by Borg CR-10.

RESULTS

After 6 months there were no significant differences between the groups in back extensor strength or back pain. Analyses within the groups showed that achieved results during 6 months intervention in the RCT were maintained after 6 months of voluntary use of the spinal orthosis and training. In the spinal orthosis group, back extensor strength mean was 81.7 N, and back pain median was 3 mm. In the training group back extensor strength mean was 72.8 N, and back pain median was 3 mm. There were no changes for any other measurements performed.

CONCLUSIONS

Voluntary use of the spinal orthosis or exercise during a 6-month follow-up period maintained the increase in back extensor muscle strength obtained during the RCT. Estimation of back pain was not influenced. This indicates that the women had continued to use the spinal orthosis and exercise.