PT vs CBT for Chronic Low Back Pain
Sequential, multiple-assignment randomized trial compares stage I and stage II nonpharmacologic treatments over 52 weeks.
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By
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Kathryn Wighton
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April 29, 2026
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1
Physical therapy (PT) showed small functional improvements over cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for chronic low back pain patients.
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2
At 10 weeks, PT improved the Oswestry Disability Index by 2.8 points more than CBT, but did not meet the minimum important difference.
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No significant differences in pain intensity were observed between PT and CBT groups throughout the study.
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4
Among nonresponders, switching therapies or mindfulness-based treatment showed no significant differences in function or pain intensity.
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The study suggests PT may be a more effective first-line treatment for chronic low back pain compared to CBT.
