An interventional study of Aquatic Exercises and Land Exercises in Chronic Low Back Pain (Non-specific, Uncomplicated), sponsored by University of Edinburgh. Completed at 1 site in United Kingdom. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-12-02.
Sponsored by University of Edinburgh · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study aims to learn about the effects of aquatic and land exercises on managing chronic low back pain in adults aged 18-65. The participants engage in a 12-week supervised land and water-based exercise program.
The main questions this study aims to answer are:
University of Edinburgh is the lead sponsor of 393 studies on the registry; 64 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
Aquatic exercises /Pool specific:
The aquatic exercise session is approximately 45-60 minutes, thrice a week, for twelve weeks, 36 sessions total. They are supervised by an experienced researcher who is a qualified Physiotherapist. The one-hour session generally includes a warm-up, the main exercise session, and a cool-down period. The exercises include balance and agility training, cardio exercises, flexibility, upper and lower limb stretching and strengthening exercises, trunk rotations, etc. Additionally, the group receives back care education involving guidelines and recommendations for adopting good posture, self-management, and active lifestyle advice each week of the intervention. Also, the participants are given a participant education handbook containing all the information and resources about LBP.
Other: Aquatic Exercises
The land exercise group will follow the same structured protocol as the aquatic exercise group regarding duration, frequency, and intensity.
Other: Land Exercises
The aquatic exercise intervention consists of structured, supervised, water-based exercises designed and delivered by an experienced physiotherapist specifically for individuals with chronic low back pain. Sessions are conducted in a temperature-controlled swimming pool with proper warm-up and cool-down. The intervention follows a progressive intensity approach with easy, medium, and hard approaches.
Also known as: Aquatic Physical Therapy, Hydrotherapy, Water-Based Exercises, Aquatic Therapy, Pool-Based Rehabilitation, Aquatic Physiotherapy, Aquatic Rehabilitation, Therapeutic Water Exercise
The land-based exercise intervention mirrors the aquatic exercise protocol regarding exercise type, duration, frequency, and progression but is performed on land.
Also known as: Land-Based Exercise Therapy, Physiotherapy-Based Exercise, Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Program, Therapeutic Exercise Routine
Pain Intensity
Pain intensity is measured by the Numerical Pain Rating Scale where the participants will report their pain as 0 (no pain) and 10(worst imaginable pain).
Time frame: Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).
Functional Disability
Functional disability is assessed by the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, a 24-item self-reported measure evaluating the impact of low back pain on daily activities.
Time frame: Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).
Health-Related Quality of Life
Quality of Life is assessed by the Short-Form Health Survey 36, a validated questionnaire measuring the eight physical and mental health domains.
Time frame: Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).
Sleep Quality
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index measures the sleep quality, its scores measured from 0-21, with higher scores indicating poor sleep quality.
Time frame: Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).
Kinesiophobia (Fear of Movement-Related to Pain)
Kinesiophobia is measured with the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, a 17-item questionnaire designed to measure the fear associated with the chronic pain and movement.
Time frame: Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).
Dynamic Balace Performance
The Y balance test measures dynamic balance by measuring stability while reaching in three directions: anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral.
Time frame: Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).
Hamstring Flexibility
The active knee extension test is a clinical measure of the hamstring flexibility.
Time frame: Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is completed, as verified in Mar 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
University of Edinburgh