Do improvements in glucose metabolism mediate the effects of a lifestyle intervention in overweight or obese people with chronic low back pain? A randomised controlled, multicentre trial

Description

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a global health problem and the leading cause of healthcare utilisation and disability. The first step for developing effective treatments is a better understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms. Previous research from our group has provided evidence for an impaired glucose metabolism in CLBP, which might add to symptom severity in this population. Additionally, the most severe and debilitated CLBP patients often have comorbidities such as overweight and obesity, which are known as insulin resistance states. Therefore, within these overweigh CLBP patients, the impaired glucose metabolism and its link to pain symptoms gives us an underlying mechanism we can try to tackle in therapy. As such, the current research proposal will examine whether the effect of an intervention that focusses simultaneously on pain and weight reduction can be explained by changes in glucose metabolism in overweight or obese patients with CLBP.

Period	1 Mar 2023
Degree of Recognition	National