Discussion
LBP, disability, MM, pain
This trial is the first to use a mixed method design to evaluate the effects of MM from perspectives of pain, disability and QOL. The equivalency of the results of the two interventions in this study supports the benefits of MM as an alternative physiotherapeutic treatment for people suffering from LBP.The improvements in pain were greater in the MM than the CG immediately after treatment but both groups achieved similar pain relief at the 6-week follow-up. Thus, our results are in agreement with those of Lena et al. [Participants receiving both the MM and CG similarly reported reduced RMD post-intervention, and improvements were maintained at the 6-week follow-up as found by Lena et al. [Our study also showed positive and superior effects of MM in flexibility specifically APT. Lena et al. [Our CG also generated positive effects on LBP. This was not surprising as systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines support the use of exercises for the management of LBP [The findings of the qualitative study were around the main theme of a teaching–learning process that promotes BA. Subthemes that may explain the body experiences with MM were pain relief, ADL, QOL, balance and release of tension. Our findings suggest that MM may generate a better health outcome in LBP patients by using sensitive postures and exercises that promote voluntary control, other physiotherapeutic interventions promoting BA as Norwegian psychomotor physiotherapy [This study has limitations. The major one is the high dropout rate which occurred because the trial was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This caused several participants to be unable to continue with the study. Another limitation is that a qualitative approach was not used for the CG group.