Exercise is one of the most common treatment suggestions for low back pain. Yet outcomes in the research are variable.

What are some of the contextual factors that can influence the outcome of using exercise to treat low back pain?

And how much does adherence really matter?

On this episode Ben is joined by Lianne Wood, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Exeter and Advanced Practice Physiotherapist, where they discuss:

(00:00 ) – Introduction

(00:58 ) - Lianne’s Realist Review Into Contextual FactorsFor Back Pain & Exercise

(04:08 ) - The Role Of Trust & Trying To Measure It

(07:16 ) - The Effect Of The Patients Confidence In Their OwnAbility & In The Clinicians Knowledge

(09:53 ) - Did Motivation To Adhere Influence Outcomes?

(11:32 ) - The Importance Of Individualised Input

(12:53 ) - The Limitations Of Current Adherence Evidence

(16:06 ) - The Review Into Back Pain Outcomes & AdherenceTo Exercise

(20:22 ) - Different Ways To Measure Adherence

(23:05 ) - Bias In Exercise Studies

(24:45 ) - The Effects Of Beliefs On Exercise Outcomes

(29:30 ) - The Importance Of Thinking Deeper With ExerciseFor Pain

(33:25 ) - Lianne’s Hardest Clinical Conversations

(38:24 ) - The Future For Exercise Adherence Research

Lianne’s Two Papers Discussed:

Contexts, behavioural mechanisms and outcomes to optimisetherapeutic exercise prescription for persistent low back pain: a realistreview (2024)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38176852/

Exercise adherence is associated with improvements inpain intensity and functional limitations in adults with chronic non-specificlow back pain: a secondary analysis of a Cochrane review (2025)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40175237/

You can find Lianne on X @WoodwicksLianne and LinkedIn

Her research profile is here:

https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/39689-lianne-wood

You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysio oremail clinicalcommunication@outlook.com

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