Effect of Aerobic Walking on Maximal Oxygen Consumption and Serum Vitamin D Levels in Patients with Mechanical Chronic Low Back Pain in Office Workers at Dr. Soetomo Hospital Surabaya

Background: Sedentary behavior is a common risk factor for mechanical chronic low back pain. Functional capacity and serum vitamin D levels are associated with low back pain intensity. The aim to analyze the effect of aerobic exercise walking on maximal oxygen consumption and serum vitamin D levels in patients with mechanical chronic low back pain. Method: true experimental with pre and post-test randomized control group design. Each group consisted of 16 respondents. The treatment group received additional aerobic exercise walking 3x/week, intensity 40-50% HRR (weeks 1-3), 50-60% HRR (weeks 4-6) and 60-80% HRR (weeks 7-8), 30 minutes per session for 8 weeks. The control group only received conventional training 3x/week for 8 weeks. The parameters evaluated were VO₂ max and 25(OH)D. Measurements were taken before and after 8 weeks of intervention. Results: The VO₂ max values of both groups increased with a significant difference after the intervention (p < 0.001) and there was a difference in the difference (p < 0.001). 25(OH)D levels in both groups increased with no significant difference after the intervention (p = 0.720) and no significant difference in the difference after the intervention (p = 0.662). Conclusion: There is a difference in the addition of walking aerobic exercise to conventional exercise compared to conventional exercise alone on maximal oxygen consumption, but there is no difference on serum vitamin D levels in mechanical chronic low back pain patients.