Effect of physical therapy management of nonspecific low back pain with exercise addiction behaviors: A case series

ABSTRACT

This case series describes two patients, aged 35 and 45 years, respectively, who presented with chronic nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) having exercise addiction (EA) behaviors. Diagnosis of EA was based on clinical findings, exercising patterns and withdrawal symptoms along with high scores in the EA inventory. This report is a potential first-time description of the successful physical therapy management of NSLBP associated with EA utilizing pain neuroscience education (with individualized curriculum), mindfulness, breathing, quota-based reduction in exercises and modification of exercises into social participation, pleasure activities and hobbies. Both the patients were seen once a week, for 8 weeks. At discharge, they were pain-free and fully functional, which was maintained at a six-month follow-up.

KEYWORDS:

• Exercise addiction
• exercise dependency
• behavioral addiction
• positive addiction
• obsessive compulsive disorder
• nonspecific low back pain
• back pain
• chronic pain
• pain neuroscience education

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Megan Sawatsky MPT MCPA for her assistance in preparing this manuscript.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.