259 patients with subacute low back pain were randomized to one of four groups in order to examine the effects of treatment on the outcomes of pain, function, and global perceived effect. The four groups were: exercise and advice, sham exercise and advice, exercise and sham advice, or sham exercise and sham advice. Results indicated that physiotherapist-prescribed exercise and advice combined had the greatest effect, and that both exercise and advice individually were more effective than the placebo at 6 weeks. The only effect that persisted at 12 months was a small effect on function.