Physical activity preferences of patients experiencing non-specific low back pain

Purpose: The aim of this observational pilot study is to investigate the preferences for types of physical activity of patients experiencing non-specific low back pain who were advised to increase their physical activity levels. Research suggests that leisure-time physical activities of moderate to vigorous intensity are associated with lower recurrence rates of low back pain. Many back pain patients do not seem to adhere to physiotherapists' activity advice. Adherence to prescribed physical activity outside the clinical setting without the supervision of the healthcare provider may be influenced by patients' physical activity preference. Material and methods: Eighty-six patients who reported non-specific low back pain were asked to complete a questionnaire. Results: The most preferred physical activities were walking and cycling. Running was the most disliked physical activity, followed by football and golf. Conclusion: When giving activity advice, it should be acknowledged that walking and cycling are the preferred activities of patients experiencing low back pain in the Dutch population.