Multidisciplinary intensive treatment for chronic low back pain: a randomized, prospective study.
BACKGROUND
Americans with low back pain have been helped to return to work by multidisciplinary intensive treatment programs. Whether this treatment method will succeed in countries with a more generous social welfare system, where the incentive to return to work might be less, is not proven.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a Danish program of functional restoration combined with behavioral support.


METHODS
Patients who had experienced at least 6 months of disabling low back pain were randomly assigned to either a 3-week intensive treatment program (n = 55) or an untreated control group (n = 51).


RESULTS
Of the 106 patients randomized, 94 (89%) returned for a 4-month follow-up visit. At that time, 29 (64%) of the 45 treated patients were able to work, compared with 14 of 49 (29%) in the control group. The treated patients had used fewer days of sick leave (P < .02), had contacted health care. professionals fewer times (P < .001), and had lower pain and disability scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Although such programs are expensive, they can reduce pension expenditures, sick leave days, health care contacts, and pain.
Bendix
A F
AF
Copenhagen Back Center, National University Hospital, Denmark.
Bendix
T
T
Vaegter
K
K
Lund
C
C
Frølund
L
L
Holm
L
L
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D010807:Physical Endurance; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012585:Sciatica / Q000150:complications; D018582:Sick Leave; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications