Recruitment procedures
Recruitment will take place in two steps: firstly, orthopaedic
surgeons from three university hospitals in
Tehran, Iran will identify potentially eligible patients
and refer them to the research centre at the Rehabilitation
Faculty of Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
Secondly, the researcher will conduct another screening
for inclusion and exclusion criteria and make the final
decision regarding eligibility. If eligible, the patient will
be provided with oral and written information about the
study. After having signed a consent form, patients will
be randomized to one of the two treatment groups.
spondylolysis, spinal stenosis, ankylosing spondylitis, previous
low back surgery, and pregnancy will be excluded.
The researcher will also ask potential participants if they
take any medication for specific psychological problems
in which case they will be excluded.