BACKGROUND: Normalization of activities in daily living is an important goal in 
rehabilitation treatment of chronic lower back pain (CLBP) patients. Clinicians 
indicate that CLBP patients often show deconditioning but also CLBP patients who 
seem to be too active are seen. The objective of the present cross-sectional 
study was to gain more insight into the daily activity pattern of CLBP patients 
compared to controls, using accelerometry.
METHODS: Daily activities were assessed by measuring body movement with a 
tri-axial accelerometer that was worn for seven consecutive days during waking 
hours. Measurements were performed in the daily environment (in-doors and 
out-doors) of the participant. Differences between activity level, time of day 
and work status were tested.
RESULTS: Data were obtained from 29 CLBP patients and 20 controls. Results show 
that the overall activity levels of patients (mean 0.75; SD 0.43) are not 
significantly different from those of controls (mean 0.71; SD 0.44). However, 
patients show significantly higher activity levels in the morning (p<0.001) and 
significantly lower activity levels in the evening (p<0.01) compared to 
controls. No significant differences in activity levels were found between 
leisure time and working days within either group; furthermore no significant 
differences in activity levels were found between patients with different work 
status.
CONCLUSION: Overall activity levels do not differ significantly between CLBP 
patients and controls, but the distribution of activities over the day differs 
significantly.