The effects of running on systemic inflammatory markers in chronic low back pain: a secondary analysis of the ASTEROID randomised controlled trial.

Study Summary

40 adults with non-specific chronic low back pain (LBP) were randomized to receive a 12-week progressive run-walk interval program or waitlist control. The primary outcomes of interest in this secondary analysis were systemic inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-8 (IL-8). Secondary outcomes included associations between changes in these inflammatory markers and pain intensity measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS), as well as depression, anxiety, and stress measured using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Outcomes were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks. Overall, the results of the study revealed no significant between-group differences in CRP, TNF-α, or IL-8, and the relationships between changes in inflammatory markers and pain intensity or mental health did not differ between groups. These findings suggested that the symptomatic benefits of run-walk training in chronic LBP may occur independently of measurable changes in these systemic inflammatory markers.