Effectiveness of an individualised swimming and education programme for chronic low back pain (EduSwim): a randomised controlled trial
In brief
Swimming plus education lowered disability scores by 2.5 points at eight weeks
In a trial of 76 adults with chronic low back pain, an individualised swimming and education programme improved disability more than education alone at eight weeks, by 2.5 points on the disability scale. The difference was not sustained at 52 weeks, pain improvement was small, and the swimming group reported more mostly non-serious adverse events.
- Journal
- British journal of sports medicine (Q1)
- Published
- 21 July 2026
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
- Authors
- Deborah M Wareham, Joel T Fuller, Petra L Graham, Natasha C Pocovi, Hazel J Jenkins, Chris G Maher, et al.
- PMID
- 42481208
- DOI
- 10.1136/bjsports-2026-111730
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Rehabilitation (top studies of the week, 11 October 2026): Individualized swimming program improves disability short term
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a swimming and education programme compared with education alone for patients with chronic low back pain. METHOD: Adults with chronic, non-specific low back pain were randomised to a swimming and education (intervention) group or an education alone (control) group (1:1). The intervention group received an individualised swimming and education programme facilitated by four physiotherapy telehealth sessions delivered over 8 weeks. The control group received up to two telehealth sessions with a physiotherapist covering the same educational content as the intervention group. The primary outcome was disability (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire, (RMDQ)) at 8 weeks. Secondary outcomes included pain intensity, patient-specific functional limitation, pain self-efficacy, fear of movement, patient-perceived global improvement and adverse events. Linear mixed models were used to assess intervention effects. RESULTS: 76 participants were randomised (39 to intervention and 37 to control). Swimming and education together was more effective than education alone for disability at 8 weeks (RMDQ mean difference (MD) -2.5, 95% CI -4.5 to -0.5), but this between-group difference was not sustained at 52 weeks. For pain intensity, the intervention showed a small benefit at 8 weeks that may not be clinically significant (MD -0.7, 95% CI -1.5 to 0.0). All other secondary outcomes showed a pattern of better outcomes in the intervention group early, which typically reduced over time. The intervention group had more adverse events, although almost all were non-serious. CONCLUSION: A swimming and education programme was more effective than education alone for short-term improvement of chronic low back pain. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12624000263594.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.