title: A physical approach to the rehabilitation of patients disabled by chronic low back pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the outcome of a multidisciplinary physically based program to treat sufferers of chronic low back pain who had not responded to previous treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective intervention study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The treatment program was conducted at the private practice of Brian C Edwards and Associates Rehabilitation Centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 54 patients participated in the treatment program. All patients were medically referred. No specific exclusion criteria were used; however, all were not working and had not responded to previous treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rehabilitation program consisted of mobilising physiotherapy, isokinetic testing, physical reconditioning, work hardening and psychological testing. This was carried out for seven hours a day, five days a week for four weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 54 patients taking part in this trial 30 (55%) were successfully rehabilitated (returned to work) and remained so at a follow-up session one year later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While selection criteria for successful rehabilitation have not been established, the results do indicate that such physical rehabilitation programs have an important part to play in the rehabilitation of sufferers of chronic low back pain.
authors.affiliation: Brian C Edwards & Associates, Mount Medical Centre, Perth, WA.
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zusman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hardcastle
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Twomey
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McLean
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009790:Occupations; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010556:Personality Tests; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome