2. The journal allows the author(s) to retain publishing rights without restrictions.
3. The legal formal aspect of journal publication accessibility refers to Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY).
Assessment of exercise re-training in chronic low back pain patients in Sub-Saharan Africa: an experimental cohort study using indirect measurement of VO2max
August 28, 2025
Downloads
Background: Exercise training is recommended for patients with chronic low back pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate exercise training in patients with chronic low back pain by indirect measurement of VO2max.
Patients and methods: This was an experimental cohort study involving 92 patients with chronic low back pain over a two-month period from 5 December 2023 to 5 February 2024. The patients underwent a four-week exercise training programme.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 49.37±12.72 years, with extremes of 26 and 70 years. There was a significant improvement in VAS pain intensity (m before=66.6 ± 1.4 ; m after =12 ± 10.9 p=0.0000) and also a significant improvement in VO2 max (m before=25.87 ± 10.15 m after = 28.25 ± 10.64 p= 0.000). The risk factors associated with low VO2max were age over 60 (p=0.000; RR=3), obesity (p=0.0002; RR=2.41) and sedentary lifestyle (p=0.0008; RR=8.39).
Conclusion: Indirect measurement of VO2max is effective for evaluating exercise training in patients with chronic low back pain. Our experimental exercise training protocol resulted in a significant improvement in patients' pain and VO2max.
TIAHO, Y., Gandema, S., Zabsonre/Tiendrebeogo , W. J. S., Sougue, C. ., Nikiema, G., Kaboré, F., & Ouedraogo, D.-D. (2025). Assessment of exercise re-training in chronic low back pain patients in Sub-Saharan Africa: an experimental cohort study using indirect measurement of VO2max. Surabaya Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Journal, 7(2), 128–142. https://doi.org/10.20473/spmrj.v7i2.59033
Wu A, March L, Zheng X, Huang J, Wang X, Zhao J, et al. Global low back pain prevalence and years lived with disability from 1990 to 2017: estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Ann Transl Med. mars 2020;8(6):299"‘299.
Knezevic NN, Candido KD, Vlaeyen JWS, Van Zundert J, Cohen SP. Low back pain. The Lancet. juill 2021;398(10294):78"‘92.
Morris LD, Daniels KJ, Ganguli B, Louw QA. An update on the prevalence of low back pain in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analyses. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. déc 2018;19(1):196.
Kahere M, Hlongwa M, Ginindza TG. A Scoping Review on the Epidemiology of Chronic Low Back Pain among Adults in Sub-Saharan Africa. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 3 mars 2022;19(5):2964.
Ouédraogo DD, Ouédraogo V, Ouédraogo LT, Kinda M, Tiéno H, Zoungrana EI, et al. Prévalence et facteurs de risque associés í la lombalgie chez le personnel hospitalier í Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). Médecine Trop Rev Corps Santé Colon. 2010;70(3):277"‘80.
Vaegter HB, Madsen AB, Handberg G, Graven-Nielsen T. Kinesiophobia is associated with pain intensity but not pain sensitivity before and after exercise: an explorative analysis. Physiotherapy. juin 2018;104(2):187"‘93.
Tiaho Y, Tiendrebeogo WJSZ, Sougue C, Kabore F, Savadogo JE, Gandema S, et al. Kinesiophobia: frequency, associated factors and impact on the life quality of participants with chronic low back pain in sub-saharan africa. Wiad Lek. déc 2021;74(12):3179"‘83.
Grabovac I, Dorner TE. Association between low back pain and various everyday performances: Activities of daily living, ability to work and sexual function. Wien Klin Wochenschr. nov 2019;131(21"‘22):541"‘9.
Tesfaye AH, Abere G, Mekonnen TH, Jara AG, Aragaw FM. A systematic review and meta-analysis of low back pain and its associated factors among school teachers in Africa. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 17 juin 2023;24(1):499.
Ranganathan H, Singh DKA. A Review of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Physiotherapy Management of Patients with Non-Specific Low Back Pain. Natl J Community Med. 1 mai 2024;15(05):405"‘15.
Mendonça CR, Noll M, Rodrigues APDS, Vitorino PVDO, Mendes MDA, Silveira EA. Association of Pain, Severe Pain, and Multisite Pain with the Level of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Severely Obese Adults: Baseline Data from the DieTBra Trial. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 22 juin 2020;17(12):4478.
Doury-Panchout F, Métivier JC, Fouquet B. VO2max in patients with chronic pain: The effect of a 4-week rehabilitation program. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. févr 2014;57(1):1"‘10.
Boutevillain L, Blay GL, Chaleat-Valayer E. Quoi de neuf dans le réentraí®nement í l'effort ? Actual En Médecine Phys Réadapt. 2020;27"‘9.
Dupeyron A, Fabre S, Tavares I, Foltz V, Ribinik P, Isner-Horobeti ME, et al. í‰ducation thérapeutique pour les patients lombalgiques chroniques : élaboration d'un guide destiné aux équipes. Principes méthodologiques et principaux résultats. Lett Médecine Phys Réadapt. sept 2013;29(3):163"‘8.
Dupeyron A, Ribinik P, Gélis A, Genty M, Claus D, Hérisson C, et al. Education in the management of low back pain. Literature review and recall of key recommendations for practice. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. juill 2011;54(5):319"‘35.
Karampreet KB, Neha S, Sudhanshu kacker. A review: Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) and its estimation methods. Int J Phys Educ Sports Health. 2019;6(6):24"‘32.
Guinet AL, Desailly E. Test de marche de six minutes (6MWT) aux enfants atteints de paralysie cérébrale. Revue de littérature et proposition d'une version adaptée. Mot Cérébrale. nov 2018;39(4):119"‘26.
Haute autorité de la Santé (HAS). IQSS 2019 - HAD : Outils de l'expérimentation de l'indicateur « Evaluation et prise en charge de la douleur » en HAD [Internet]. 2019 [cité 8 juin 2024]. Disponible sur: https://www.has-sante.fr/jcms/c_2905713/fr/iqss-2019-had
Sagat P. Associations Between Gait Speed and Fat Mass in Older Adults. Clin Interv Aging. mai 2024;Volume 19:737"‘44.
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé. Activité physique [Internet]. 2022 [cité 7 juill 2022]. Disponible sur: https://www.who.int/fr
Zhuo Q, Yang W, Chen J, Wang Y. Metabolic syndrome meets osteoarthritis. Nat Rev Rheumatol. déc 2012;8(12):729"‘37.
Gay C, Chabaud A, Guilley E, Coudeyre E. Educating patients about the benefits of physical activity and exercise for their hip and knee osteoarthritis. Systematic literature review. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. juin 2016;59(3):174"‘83.
Chaput JP, Willumsen J, Bull F, Chou R, Ekelund U, Firth J, et al. 2020 WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour for children and adolescents aged 5–17 years: summary of the evidence. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. déc 2020;17(1):141.
Tegner H, Frederiksen P, Esbensen BA, Juhl C. Neurophysiological Pain Education for Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clin J Pain. aoí»t 2018;34(8):778"‘86.
Copyright (c) 2025 Yirozounlomian TIAHO, Salifou Gandema, Wendlassida Joelle Stéphanie Zabsonre/Tiendrebeogo , Charles Sougue, Germain Nikiema, Fulgence Kaboré, Dieu-Donné Ouedraogo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
1. The journal allows the author to hold the copyright of the article without restrictions.
