Objectives To explore patients’ and physiotherapists’ perspectives on a snack-based physical activity (PA) approach and mobile health technologies (mHealth) for non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP). Snack-based PA refers to short, frequent bouts of activity (2–5 minutes) integrated into daily routines.

Design Qualitative study using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of semi-structured online interviews.

Setting Community-based recruitment in the United Kingdom. Interviews were conducted online via Microsoft Teams between May and November 2024.

Participants Sixteen participants were purposively sampled: eight adults with NSCLBP (lasting ≥3 months in the previous year) and eight physiotherapists with ≥2 years’ experience managing people with NSCLBP.

Results Three shared themes were identified across both groups: (1) understanding the needs and requirements of PA; (2) perceptions of snack-based activity; and (3) factors influencing mobile health application use. Five subthemes were identified within themes one and three, together with two additional subthemes reported only by patients, relating to data sharing and technical issues. Both groups valued the time-efficiency and practical integration of snack-based activity, while highlighting the need for personalisation, age-appropriate content, accessibility and affordability.

Conclusions Physiotherapists and patients emphasised the potential value of the snack-based PA approach in terms of adherence. However, both groups agreed that future intervention development should prioritise personalisation, user-friendly design, and equitable digital access.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THIS STUDY

This study uses Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to provide in-depth, dual-perspective insights from both people with non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) and physiotherapists on a novel snack-based physical activity approach for chronic non-specific low back pain.

Reporting adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) 32-item checklist to ensure methodological transparency.

The sample included variation in patient age, ethnicity and physiotherapist experience, which broadened the range of views captured.

All participants were UK-based, which may limit the transferability of findings to other healthcare systems and cultural contexts.

The small sample size, although consistent with IPA methodology, and the use of single online interviews, may not capture longitudinal perspectives on sustained engagement.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

This study did not receive any funding.

I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.

Yes

The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Ethics Committee of the University of Birmingham gave ethical approval for this work (reference ERN_1890-Apr2024). All participants provided written informed consent.

I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals.

Yes

I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).

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I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable.

Yes

All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors.