Effects of reducing sedentary behaviour on back pain, paraspinal muscle insulin sensitivity and muscle fat fraction and their associations: a secondary analysis of a 6-month randomised controlled trial
Tommi Vasankari,
Henri Vähä-Ypyä,
Harri Sievänen,
Eliisa Löyttyniemi,
Ilkka Heinonen,
Noora Houttu,
Kirsi Laitinen,
Virva Saunavaara,
Jooa Norha,
Tanja Sjöros,
Taru Garthwaite,
Saara Laine,
Tiina Verho,
Jussi Hirvonen,
Kari Kalliokoski
Affiliations
Tommi Vasankari
9 Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
Henri Vähä-Ypyä
8 UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Pirkanmaa, Finland
Harri Sievänen
Bone Research Group, UKK-Institute, 33500 Tampere
Eliisa Löyttyniemi
Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku, Turku, Varsinais-Suomi, Finland
Ilkka Heinonen
1 School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Noora Houttu
Institute of Biomedicine, Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Kirsi Laitinen
Institute of Biomedicine, Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Virva Saunavaara
1Turku PET Centre, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
Jooa Norha
Turku PET Centre, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
Tanja Sjöros
Turku PET Centre, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
Taru Garthwaite
Turku PET Centre, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
Saara Laine
Turku PET Centre, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
Tiina Verho
Turku PET Centre, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
Jussi Hirvonen
Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
Kari Kalliokoski
Turku PET Centre, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
Objectives Sedentary behaviour (SB) is a plausible intervention target for back pain mitigation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of a 6-month SB reduction intervention on back pain and related disability outcomes, and paraspinal muscle (ie, erector spinae and transversospinales separately) insulin sensitivity (glucose uptake, GU) and muscle fat fraction (FF).Methods Sixty-four adults with overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome were randomised into intervention (n=33) and control (n=31) groups. The intervention group aimed to reduce SB by 1 hour/day (measured with accelerometers) and the control group continued as usual. Back pain intensity and pain-related disability were assessed using 10 cm Visual Analogue Scales and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire. Paraspinal muscle GU was measured using 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography during hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp. FF was measured using MRI.Results Pain-related disability increased during the intervention in both groups. Back pain intensity increased significantly more in the control group than in the intervention group in which back pain intensity remained unchanged (group×time p=0.030). No statistically significant between-group changes in pain-related disability, ODI or paraspinal GU and FF were observed. In the whole study group, the change in daily steps was associated positively with the change in paraspinal muscle GU.Conclusion An intervention focusing on SB reduction may be feasible for preventing back pain worsening regardless of paraspinal muscle GU or FF.Trial registration number NCT03101228.
