An eight-week treatment plan of simulated horseback riding (SHR) exercise significantly reduces pain-related fear-disability, and fear-avoidance beliefs (FABQ) within people suffered from low back pain, evident from the findings of a randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Sport Rehabilitation.

A total of forty-eight patients with chronic low back pain were selected and received either STB exercises or SHR exercises for 30 minutes, two days/week for eight weeks. Pain, fear and functional disabilities were measured using the numeric rating scale (NRS), fear-avoidance beliefs (FABQ) scores, [Roland-Morris disability (RMD) and Oswestry disability index (ODI)] at baseline and 4 weeks, eight weeks, and six months.

Both groups exhibited a notable difference regarding the FABQ associated to work scale; whereas no significant differences were noticed in ODI, RMD, NRS, and FABQ associated to physical scale. As compared to the baseline values, both groups exhibited a change in NRS at four weeks, ODI at six months, and RMD at eight weeks. However, only the SHR group showed a change in FABQ related work and physical scales at six months and four weeks, respectively. These reflect SHR exercises provides better outcomes as compared to another approach, especially when done in a seated position.