Contributions of a Back School program to elderly people

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a supervised back school program (BSP) in improving health and function of elderly subjects with back pain or discomfort. Ten subjects (62.6 +- 6.8 years) participated in a BSP which consisted of fifteen 60-minute sessions given by the same physiotherapist. This program included exercises for flexibility and joint mobility, muscle strength, breathing techniques and relaxation, postural intervention, respiratory rehabilitation and massage techniques. The location and the intensity of pain were evaluate before and after the intervention by using the body map diagram and the visual analogue scale (VAS), and the functionality was evaluate by the cervical and lumbar spine Oswestry questionnaires. There was a significant reduction in the VAS intensity pain (p= 0.04) and in the neck intensity pain, by the Oswestry questionnaire (p= 0.04). Although not significant, it was also observed decreased levels of low back discomfort and disability after the intervention. There was a strong correlation only between the level of intensity of neck pain and disability index of this segment (R= 0.63, p= 0.05). This study concludes that the Back School Program is an alternative therapy for the treatment of pain and discomfort of the spine in the elderly, especially in regard to complaints of cervical origin. However, it has not necessarily present effectiveness to the functional improvement in those individuals who subjected to this intervention.