Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of rehabilitation in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) with concomitant hypertension and without hypertension. Also been examined the effects of rehabilitation in the case of high blood pressure with accompanying coronary artery disease or heart failure.
Material and methods The study group included 535 individuals, 437 (81.7%) women and 98 (18.3%) men, aged 18–87 years (mean age 51.7 ± 17.2) treated with CLBP. Among the study group in 214 (40%) patients had hypertension. The effects of rehabilitation were evaluated for reducing pain, improving mobility and quality of life. Pain, improve transportation and quality of life was measured on a 8 grade scale before and after rehabilitation.
Results The effects of rehabilitation in patients with CLBP and hypertension did not differ in terms of pain (p = 0.374), locomotion (p = 0.96) and quality of life (p = 0.202) than patients without hypertension. Both in patients with hypertension and without hypertension after rehabilitation was a reduction in pain (p < 0.001), improvement in locomotion (p <0.001) and increase the quality of life (p < 0.001). Coexistence of CLBP with hypertension and stable coronary artery disease does not affect the rehabilitation outcome in pain (p = 0.281), locomotion (p = 0.526) and quality of life (p = 0.684). Coexistence of CLBP with hypertension and compensated heart failure is also not has no effect on rehabilitation outcome in pain (p = 0.411), locomotion (p = 0.318) and quality of life (p = 0.986).
Conclusions Effects of rehabilitation in patients with CLBP and hypertension are comparable with the effects of rehabilitation in patients without hypertension.
Arterial Hypertension 2011, vol. 15, no 3, pages 163–168.