Cognitive Functional Therapy Effective for Chronic Low Back Pain at Three Years

Follow Drugslib on

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Aug 6, 2025.

via HealthDay

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 6, 2025 -- Cognitive functional therapy (CFT), with or without biofeedback, is more effective than usual care for treating patients with chronic disabling low back pain, according to a study published online Aug. 5 in The Lancet Rheumatology.

Mark Hancock, Ph.D., from the Spinal Pain Research Center at Macquarie University in Sydney, and colleagues conducted a randomized, three-arm parallel-group phase 3 trial to compare the long-term effectiveness of CFT, delivered with or without movement sensor biofeedback, and usual care for the treatment of chronic low back pain. Adults with low back pain lasting more than three months, with at least moderate pain-related physical activity limitation, were recruited and randomly assigned to usual care, CFT only, or CFT plus biofeedback (165, 164, and 163 patients, respectively). Overall, 312 participants were successfully followed up at three years.

The researchers found that compared with usual care, CFT only and CFT plus biofeedback were both more effective in reducing activity limitation at three years (mean difference, −3.5 and −4.1, respectively). Small and nonsignificant differences were seen between CFT only and CFT plus biofeedback. CFT only and CFT plus biofeedback were also more effective than usual care for pain intensity at three years (mean difference, −1.0 and −1.5, respectively); small and nonsignificant differences were seen between CFT only and CFT plus biofeedback.

"CFT produces clinically important effects for activity limitation at three-year follow-up," the authors write. "These long-term effects are novel and provide the opportunity to markedly reduce the effect of chronic back pain if the intervention can be widely implemented."

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2025-08-07 06:00

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords