Exercise therapy has been shown to be effective in decreasing pain and improving function for patients with recurrent low back pain. Research on the mechanisms that trigger and/or underlie the effects of exercise therapy on low back pain problems is of critical importance for prevention of recurring or persistence of this costly and common condition. One factor that seems to be crucial within this context is the dysfunction of the back muscles. Recent pioneering results have shown that individuals with recurring episodes of low back pain have specific dysfunctions of these muscles (peripheral changes) and also dysfunctions at the cortical level (central changes). This work provides the foundation to take a fresh look at the interplay between peripheral and central aspects, and its potential involvement in exercise therapy. The current project will draw on this opportunity to address the following research questions: What are the immediate (after a single session) and the long-term effects (after 18 repeated sessions) of exercise training on:

- the back muscle structure;

- the back muscle function;

- the structure of the brain;

- functional connectivity of the brain.

This research project also aims to examine whether the effects are dependent on how the training was performed. Therefore a specific versus a general exercise program will be compared.