STRONG-BACK Study
Strengthening & Targeted Rehabilitation for Optimal Neuromuscular Gains in chronic BACK pain
What is chronic nonspecific low back pain?
Low back pain is the most common musculoskeletal condition and the leading cause of disability worldwide.
Low back pain is consists of pain in the posterior aspect of the body, in the area located between the lower edge of the ribs and the buttocks, with or without leg pain. When the pain lasts for at least 3 months, it is termed chronic.
Nonspecific low back pain is when it is not possible to identify a specific disease or structural reason to explain the pain. Low back pain is nonspecific in about 90% of cases.
Did you know? Exercise therapy is recommended by international clinical guidelines as the first line of treatment for nonspecific chronic low back pain.
Athletic Therapists and Kinesiologists: Exercise therapy experts
Our exercise interventions are delivered by university-qualified therapists: certified athletic therapists and accredited kinesiologists who have received extensive training in delivering our exercise programs.
"In Canada, a certified athletic therapist (CAT(C)) is a health care practitioner skilled in the prevention, identification, intervention, management and treatment of emergency, acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions and injuries to the physically active sustained either at work or through involvement in recreational or sporting activities."
- La corporation des thérapeutes du sport du Québec
"The kinesiologist is a health professional who specializes in physical activity and uses movements for prevention, treatment and performance. He assesses the physical condition, and its determinants, as well as the dynamics of movement of a person with or without disturbed personal factors. He establishes a plan for treatment and intervention through physical activity and then ensures its implementation in order to improve or restore health. His functions range from the functional dimension to the performance, according to the biopsychosocial foundations."
- Fédération des Kinésiologues du Québec
Research Participants needed for Fall 2026
Our team will be recruiting individuals living with chronic nonspecific low back pain to participate in our study starting September 2026. Send us an email if you would be interested in participating in the fall!
If you would like to learn more about the STRONG-BACK Study, please send an email to our Study Coordinator at [email protected].
FAQ
Why participate in research?
Research is an essential element to the development of knowledge that will ultimately help to improve health services offered to the population. The INSPIRE Lab's aims to improve the understanding, prevention, and management of chronic low back pain, so your participation is essential to this research!
Is there a deadline to register for the study?
There is no deadline, as recruitment is ongoing.
Where is the study taking place?
This study is taking place at the Concordia University's School of Health, in Montreal.
Will I be compensated for my participation?
As part of this study, participants receive exercise therapy at no cost.
Will I receive the results from the study?
We can provide results upon request once all data collection has been completed.
If I change my mind, can I withdraw from the study?
Absolutely, all participants are free to withdraw from the study without prejudice, and their data deleted.
Research Team
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Maryse Fortin, PhD, CAT(C)
Co-Investigators:
Luciana G. Macedo, PhD
James Elliott, PhD
Chad E. Cook, PT, PhD
Yannick Tousignant-Laflamme, PT, PhD
Geoff Dover, PhD, CAT(C)
Gabrielle Pagé, PhD
Thien Than Dang-Vu, MD, PhD
Michael H. Weber, MD, PhD
Najmeh Khalini-Mahani, PhD
Jinhui Ma, PhD
Research Team Members:
Alicia Wright, MSc, CSEP-CEP, FKQ-Kinesiologist
Nicolas Vaillancourt, MSc, CAT(C)
Chanelle Montpetit, BSc(Hons), CAT(C)
Meaghan Anstruther, MSc, CAT(C)
Michelle Beckles, BSc, CAT(C)
Brent Rosenstein, PhD
Cleo Bertrand, BSc(Hons), BA
Adam Kobaisi, BSc
Nicolas Fortin
Funding
References
Costa N, Hodges P. Low Back Pain. IASP-pain.org. Published July 25, 2023. Accessed January 15, 2026.
https://www.iasp-pain.org/resources/fact-sheets/low-back-pain/.
Dionne CE, Dunn KM, Croft PR, et al. A consensus approach toward the standardization of back pain definitions for use in prevalence studies. Spine. 2008;33(1):95-103.
Fédération des Kinésiologues du Québec. The Kinesiologist. Accessed January 15, 2026.
https://www.kinesiologue.com/en/le-kinesiologue.
GBD 2021 Low Back Pain Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of low back pain, 1990-2020, its attributable risk factors, and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Rheumatol. 2023;5: e316-29.
La corporation des thérapeutes du sport du Québec. Certified Athletic Therapists. Accessed January 15, 2026.
https://ctsq.qc.ca/en/athletic-therapy/brief-overview/.
Oliveira CB, Maher CG, Pinto RZ, Traeger AC, Lin CC, Chenot JF, van Tulder M, Koes BW. Clinical practice guidelines for the management of non-specific low back pain in primary care: an updated overview. Eur Spine J. 2018;27(11):2791-2803.
World Health Organization. Low back pain. WHO.int. Published June 19, 2023. Accessed January 15, 2026.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/low-back-pain.