Intensive physical and psychosocial training program for patients with chronic low back pain. A controlled clinical trial.
METHODS
The authors conducted a controlled clinical trial with 1-year follow-up to define the effectiveness of an intensive physical and psychosocial training program on patients with low back pain.


BACKGROUND
The intervention group included 152 patients (mean age 40.5 yr, Million index 45.1/100), and the reference group included 141 patients (mean age 40.4 yr, Million-index 44.5/100).


METHODS
The progressive intervention program consisted of intensive physical training and psychosocial activation. The outcomes were physical and psychosocial measures, the pain and disability index (Million), sick leaves, and occupational handicap.


RESULTS
The intervention was more efficient with respect to physical measures and pain and disability index. There were only mild or no differences in changes between the study groups in psychologic variables, sick leaves, or retirement.


CONCLUSIONS
The intervention program could improve physical disability, but to improve occupational handicap, activities of the whole society (social legislation, labor market policy) are needed.
Alaranta
H
H
Rehabilitation Research Centre of the Social Insurance Institution, Turku, Finland.
Rytökoski
U
U
Rissanen
A
A
Talo
S
S
Rönnemaa
T
T
Puukka
P
P
Karppi
S L
SL
Videman
T
T
Kallio
V
V
Slätis
P
P
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012179:Retirement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D012984:Software; D013997:Time Factors