Researchers from Macquarie University here in Australia have joined forces with Bend + Mend to run a trial that is investigating how we might be able to help better prevent low back pain.
The WalkBack trial is a large-scale research study funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and conducted in Sydney Australia. The trial is investigating the combination of an individualised walking programme and education, compared to usual care, for the prevention of low back pain.
Bend + Mend is involved as one of the clinics that is providing the programme to participants and are also helping recruit any interested people into the trial.
If you live in Sydney, have had an episode of low back pain in the last 6 months and are not already engaged in walking for exercise more than 3 times per week, you may be eligible to participate. The researchers will randomly assign willing participants to one of two groups. One group will receive the walking and advice intervention delivered by a physiotherapist (3 face to face and 3 over the phone consultations, at no cost) and the other group will continue with their current management of recurrences. Both groups will be followed for a minimum of 1 year to see if they have a recurrence of low back pain and gauge the impact low back pain has had in your life.
Participating in this trial will help to improve the current management of recurrent low back pain episodes. If you are interested or would like to get in touch with the research team, please contact them on walkback@mq.edu.au or via phone on 0434 833 542.
