Confirmatory evidence?
In an accompanying editorial, Erin Krebs, MD, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, and colleagues, noted that past systematic reviews have concluded that exercise therapies are “generally effective” for chronic back and neck pain, which is usually defined as pain lasting more than 12 weeks, but not for acute pain, defined as pain lasting less than 4-6 weeks.
“The present trial contributes evidence for effectiveness of exercise therapy among patients with a current episode of less than 12 weeks, meaning not yet chronic, but not necessarily acute,” the editorialists wrote.
“Clinicians should more often recommend structured exercise programs for subacute back or neck pain, especially when the pain is recurrent,” they added.
The study was funded by unrestricted philanthropic gifts to Stanford (Calif.) University. Dr. Choudhry received grants from Stanford University during the conduct of the study.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.