title: Low back pain: program description and outcome in a case series.
abstract: Studies are needed to enhance our understanding of functional outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to describe a community clinic program for injured workers with low back pain and to report outcomes of the first 50 consecutive patients to enter the program who were evaluated using a standardized assessment procedure. Data for this report were collected from a retrospective chart review as part of an evaluation of the program. The patients referred to the clinic entered a 4-week treatment program. They were assessed at entry and discharge using the Toronto-Hamilton Lumbar Database. The database assessment is a standardized evaluation for documenting subjective and objective clinical data, and the protocol includes a diagnostic classification system and pain and function ratings. The results of this investigation include a statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in pain and increase in function as measured by the Jan van Breemen pain and disability scales and the Sickness Impact Profile. Seventy-four percent of the treatment group had returned to work by 6 weeks postdischarge from the program. This study suggests that a significant improvement in functional capabilities, a decrease in pain and disability indices, and higher return-to-work rates can be achieved through a 4-week, community-based multiprofessional rehabilitation program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanford
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Binkley
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stratford
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Finch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003153:Community Health Services; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012803:Sick Role; D016896:Treatment Outcome