Abstract
Background
Low back pain (LBP) is one of the prevalent chronic pains in flight attendants. Exercise is recommended; however, the effects of resistance exercises with motor skills training and pain reprocessing in flight attendants with LBP are not currently known. This study compares the effect of resistance exercises with motor skills training and pain reprocessing on the pain, performance, and psychological factors of flight attendants with LBP.
Methods
This study is a randomized controlled trial in which 60 flight attendants with LBP will be enrolled. The patients will be randomly allocated to receive (1) resistance exercises plus motor skill exercises, (2) resistance exercises plus pain reprocessing, (3) resistance exercises plus motor skill exercises and pain reprocessing and (4) resistance training. Participants will be assessed pre- and post-intervention and 3 months after interventions. The primary outcome will be pain intensity. The secondary outcomes will be disability, quality-of-life, fear of movement, pain catastrophizing, pain self-efficacy, depression, anxiety, stress, performance, single-limb stance, sitting on Bobath ball and muscular endurance at post-intervention and 3 months.
Discussion
This study will be the first to compare resistance training with motor skills training and pain reprocessing on pain, performance and psychological factors of flight attendants with LBP. As this research is being conducted in one of the low-income countries, the demographic characteristics and results may differ from those of high-income countries. Results may guide clinicians and improve their clinical outcomes when treating flight attendants with LBP.
Trial registration:
The protocol was registered prospectively on Clinical Trials (IRCT20220804055617N1, Registration Date: 17/12/2022, http://www.irct.ir).