Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Mechanisms of Specific Trunk Exercises in Low Back Pain
Brief Summary: The research objective is to determine which physical therapy (PT) treatment is the most efficacious for patients with lower back pain (LBP), who have been subgrouped based on certain clinical features. There is only limited evidence that supports any one PT treatment for patients with LBP since PT treatment outcomes for exercise protocols are equivocal, given the heterogeneous clinical features of patients with LBP. Thus, classification of patients with LBP into subgroups with shared clinical features has been identified as a research priority by several groups in order to prescribe the most efficacious PT treatment for each homogeneous subgroup. The investigators hypothesize that particular PT treatments are most efficacious when applied to patients with LBP, who present with particular clinical and neuromuscular features.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* a history of chronic LBP with or without recurrences for a minimum of 12 months;
* between 21 - 55 years of age;
* able to stand and walk without assistance;
* have an Oswestry Disability Score of 19% or higher AND/OR less than an 8 on one activity reported on the Patient Specific Functional Scale,

Exclusion Criteria:

* any major structural spinal deformity including scoliosis, kyphosis, or stenosis;
* spinal fracture or dislocation;
* osteoporosis;
* ankylosing spondylitis;
* rheumatoid arthritis;
* disc herniation with corroborating clinical signs and symptoms;
* serious spinal complications such as tumor or infection;
* previous spinal surgery;
* frank neurological loss, i.e., weakness and sensory loss;
* pain or paresthesia below the knee;
* etiology of LBP other than the lumbar spine, e.g., hip joint;
* history of neurological disease which required hospitalization;
* active treatment for cancer;
* history of unresolved cancer;
* pregnancy or less than 6 months post-partum or less than 6 months post weaning;
* magnified symptom-behavior;
* worker's compensation or disability case;
* in litigation for the LBP problem;
* have a BMI ≥ 30.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Active patient in two study primary care clinics or HIV clinic in same system
* Prescribed OAs \>2 mos in the past year
* Back/lower extremity pain
* English or Spanish speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unstable comorbidity
* Cardiovascular/pulmonary disease that prevents exercise
* Cancer-related pain
* Significant mental health disorder
* Alcohol or drug abuse
* Inability to walk unassisted for at least one block
* Inability to provide consent (e.g., dementia)
* Residing more than 10 miles from clinic (poor transportation)
* Patients who are unable or unwilling to attend clinic- or community-based sessions
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* 18-64 years old
* Current non-specific low back pain persisting \>12 weeks. Mean low back pain intensity for the previous week 4 or greater on a 0 to 10 numerical rating scale (0=no pain to 10=worst possible pain).
* English fluency sufficient to follow treatment instructions and answer survey questions
* Willingness to list comprehensive contact information for at least one (preferably two) friend, family member, or work colleague who will always know how to contact the participant.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Use of yoga in the previous 6 months
* New CLBP treatments started within the previous month or anticipated to begin in the next 12 months
* Pregnancy
* Back surgery in the previous three years
* Specific CLBP pathologies
* Severe or progressive neurological deficits
* Sciatica pain equal to or greater than back pain
* Active substance or alcohol abuse
* Active or planned worker's compensation, disability, or personal injury claims
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Male and female between 18 and 65 years old.
* Primary complaint of LBP experienced at least over the previous 3-month duration.
* Ability to read/understand English or Hausa language.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Previous history of thoracic spine or lumbosacral spine surgery.
* Any neurological findings indicating radiculopathy.
* Evidence of serious spine pathology (e.g. tumor, infection, fracture, spinal stenosis, inflammatory disease).
* Unstable or severe disabling chronic cardiovascular and pulmonary disease.
* History of serious psychological or psychiatric illness.
* Current pregnancy

Answer: A