The effect of an active break intervention on nonspecific low back pain and musculoskeletal discomfort during prolonged sitting among young people - Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Abstract The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the active break program in reducing LBP and perceived musculoskeletal discomfort during prolonged sitting in young people with LBP. This will be a randomized controlled study. The participants will be recruited from students of a Bachelor’s course in Physical Education. The participants will be assigned to an experimental group (with an active break) and a control group. The primary outcomes will be average pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale), functional disability (Oswestry Disability Index), and perceived musculoskeletal discomfort during prolonged sitting (Borg scale), and the Global Perceived Effect. The secondary outcome will be a Post-Intervention Questionnaire (5-item self-completed questionnaire). Our main research outcome – exercise protocols and interventions – will help to develop ergonomic recommendations for young people with LBP. Exercises and recommendations will be the basis for developing a proprietary preventive and therapeutic program, which will be implemented in selected educational institutions.