Contrary to our expectation, MC exercise and GE exercise appear
equally effective in the patient subgroup included in this study.We
can conclude that the contrast between both types of intervention
did not bring additional value to the shared effects. Decisions for
the application of either active treatment approach can currently
not be taken on the basis of the results of this study. It is possible
that the type of exercise treatment is less important than previously
presumed; that the patient is guided to a consistent long-term
exercise lifestyle is of most importance.
Based on the results of this study, we can recommend exercise
therapy for patients with NSLBP and MCI, either using movement
control or general exercise. Future research on treatment for NSLBP
may reconsider the concept of testing exercises for specific subgroups.
If the theoretical model, clinical findings, patients likely to
respond to the treatment (but with a prognosis that can be
improved) and adequate treatment goals are found, the means to
treat need to have sufficient contrast. The concept behind exercise
may not be based so much on specific movements, but on activity
per se, the dosage of exercise, the kind of information and general
aspects of a physiotherapy treatment.