These data suggest that the activity levels of patients with NSLBP are neither associated with , nor predictive of , disability or pain levels .
Although clinical guidelines advocate exercise and activity in the management of non-specific low back pain ( NSLBP ) , the link between levels of physical activity and outcomes is unclear .
This systematic review investigated the relationships between free living activity levels  after onset of low back pain ( LBP ) and measures of pain , and disability in patients with NSLBP .
Validity and repeatability of a modified Baecke questionnaire on physical activity.
BACKGROUND In a pilot study for the European Prospect i ve Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition ( EPIC ) a modification of the Baecke question naire on physical activity was tested for repeatability and relative validity in a population of 134 men and women aged 20 - 70 years . METHODS For the assessment of repeatability Pearson 's correlation coefficients and percentages of agreement after classification in tertiles were computed between administrations of the question naire at baseline , and after 5 and 11 months . Relative validity was determined by comparing the question naire to a four times repeated 3-day activity diary . RESULTS Repeatability after 5 and 11 months was good , with test-retest correlation coefficients between 0.65 and 0.89 for main sections of the question naire . The percentages of agreement , exceeding chance ( Cohen 's kappa ) were 57 % and 56 % for men ( at 5 and 11 months respectively ) and 41 % and 46 % for women . The correlations with the diaries were 0.56 in men and 0.44 in women . Agreement apart from chance between classification in tertiles for both methods was 35 % for men and 10 % for women . CONCLUSIONS These data show that repeatability is good and relative validity as compared to an activity diary is moderate but well within the range of values found in other studies . The question naire is more valid in men than in women
These data suggest that the activity levels of patients with NSLBP are neither associated with , nor predictive of , disability or pain levels .
Although clinical guidelines advocate exercise and activity in the management of non-specific low back pain ( NSLBP ) , the link between levels of physical activity and outcomes is unclear .
This systematic review investigated the relationships between free living activity levels  after onset of low back pain ( LBP ) and measures of pain , and disability in patients with NSLBP .