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 .
Do Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain Have a Lower Level of Aerobic Fitness Than Healthy Controls?: Are Pain, Disability, Fear of Injury, Working Status, or Level of Leisure Time Activity Associated With the Difference in Aerobic Fitness Level?
Study Design . Prospect i ve case series with historical controls ( normative data ) . Objectives . To compare the aerobic fitness level of patients with chronic low back pain ( CLBP ) with healthy controls matched for gender , age , and level of sport activity and to evaluate the association of the difference in aerobic fitness level with pain intensity , duration and degree of disability , fear of injury , and level of activity during work , including household and leisure time . Summary and Background Data . Controversy exists whether patients with CLBP have a lower level of aerobic fitness and whether this level may partly depend on the patients ’ activity level . Methods . A total of 108 CLBP patients completed question naires regarding pain , disability , fear of injury , and activity level  and performed a modified Åstr and submaximal cycling test . The maximum oxygen consumption ( VO2max ) was calculated and compared with normative data . Multiple linear regression analysis was performed with the difference of the level of aerobic fitness as dependent variable . Results . VO2max could be calculated in 78 % of the patients . Both men and women with CLBP had significant lower VO2max than the healthy referents ( 10 mL/kg LBM • min−1 and 5.6 mL/kg LBM • min−1 respectively , P < 0.001 ) , and this difference was significantly greater in men ( P = 0.03 ) . Multiple regression analysis showed that the level of aerobic fitness was not associated with the presumed variables . The patients who stopped the test prematurely were older ( P = 0.02 ) and more disabled ( P = 0.01 ) . Conclusion . CLBP patients , especially men , seem to have a reduced aerobic fitness level compared with the normative population . No explanatory factor for that loss could be identified
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 .