LoLA Project - BackFit App

Key details:

• Type of project: Research project
• Duration: 2016–2020
• Involvement: 2018–2020
• Participants: Dr Carolina Sitges Quirós, Dr Olga Velasco Roldán, Núria García Dopico, Jaume Crespí Palmer, Joan Segur Ferrer.
• Role in the project: Research Technician
• Tasks: Implementation of the behavioural activation and physical exercise protocol (H6); psychophysiological assessment of pain, physical fitness, affective state, and nervous system function and structure (H7); development of the BackFit APP.

Description:

Low Level of Activity (LoLA) is the acronym of the research project “Protocolo de activación conductual y ejercicio físico para pacientes con dolor crónico basado en el uso de nuevas tecnologías (smartphone)” [Behavioural activation and physical exercise protocol for patients with chronic pain based on new technologies (smartphone)]. It was funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (PSI2015-66295-R) and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Balearic Islands (IB3186/16), the Office for the Transfer of Research Results (OTRI) and the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB). The project was carried out by the Cognitive-Affective Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology (CANCliP) research group, in collaboration with the companies Apploading and BackFit®.

The main objectives of the project were:

• To record changes in sensory and pain thresholds, lumbar flexibility and strength in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain after a brief session of physical exercise. The study included four experimental groups: moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise (walking on a treadmill for 20 minutes at 55–70% of maximum heart rate (MHR), 4–6 on the Borg rating of perceived exertion scale) (n=20), strength exercise (n=20), flexibility exercise (n=20) and a control group (completing questionnaires) (n=20).
• To develop a self-administered behavioural activation and physical exercise protocol (8 weeks) using new technologies (smartphone), recording possible changes in the central nervous system (electroencephalographic (EEG) activity and heart rate variability (HRV)), as well as improvements in physical fitness (cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, balance) and in physical (pain, fatigue), affective (depression, anxiety) and cognitive (working memory, attentional control) symptoms in patients with chronic pain (before, immediately after and 6 months after the protocol).

Within the framework of Low Level of Activity, the BackFit APP was developed. It is an mHealth solution designed by physiotherapists, physical activity and sports science professionals and psychologists from the CANCliP group of the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) and the Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa). The app offers guidance for the self-management of back pain through muscle strength, motor control, relaxation, flexibility and self-massage exercises, based on the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine (2018), the European guidelines on low back pain and the work of McGill (2015) and Hodges (2003).

It also includes detailed information and educational videos, based on the scientific evidence of Butler & Moseley (2003), that help users better understand back health.

In addition, the BackFit APP has been awarded the AppSaludable quality seal by the Agencia de Calidad Sanitaria de Andalucía. Based on 31 recommendations on design, use and evaluation, this seal recognises the quality and safety of the app and confirms that its content is appropriate for its target population, that it has been tested, and that several improvements were incorporated during its development and evaluation.

In the media

• Balears fa Ciència (IB3): More information.
• IB3 Ràdio news (min. 40): More information.
• IB3 TV news: More information.
• The Conversation: More information
• IB3 TV news: More information