Efficiency and costs of medical exercise therapy, conventional physiotherapy, and self-exercise in patients with chronic low back pain. A pragmatic, randomized, single-blinded, controlled trial with 1-year follow-up.
METHODS
A multicenter, randomized, single-blinded controlled trial with 1-year follow-up.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficiency of progressively graded medical exercise therapy, conventional physiotherapy, and self-exercise by walking in patients with chronic low back pain.


BACKGROUND
Varieties of medical exercise therapy and conventional physiotherapy are considered to reduce symptoms, improve function, and decrease sickness absence, but this opinion is controversial.


METHODS
Patients with chronic low back pain or radicular pain sick-listed for more than 8 weeks and less than 52 weeks (Sickness Certificate II) were included. The treatment lasted 3 months (36 treatments). Pain intensity, functional ability, patient satisfaction, return to work, number of days on sick leave, and costs were recorded.


RESULTS
Of the 208 patients included in this study, 71 were randomly assigned to medical exercise therapy, 67 to conventional physiotherapy, and 70 to self-exercise. Thirty-three (15.8%) patients dropped out during the treatment period. No difference was observed between the medical exercise therapy and conventional physiotherapy groups, but both were significantly better than self-exercise group. Patient satisfaction was highest for medical exercise therapy. Return to work rates were equal for all 3 intervention groups at assessment 15 months after therapy was started, with 123 patients were back to work. In terms of costs for days on sick leave, the medical exercise therapy group saved 906,732 Norwegian Kroner (NOK) ($122,531.00), and the conventional physiotherapy group saved NOK 1,882,560 ($254,200.00), compared with the self-exercise group.


CONCLUSIONS
The efficiency of medical exercise therapy and conventional physiotherapy is shown. Leaving patients with chronic low back pain untampered poses a risk of worsening the disability, resulting in longer periods of sick leave.
Torstensen
T A
TA
Norwegian Centre for Physiotherapy Research, University of Bergen, Oslo, Norway.
Ljunggren
A E
AE
Meen
H D
HD
Odland
E
E
Mowinckel
P
P
Geijerstam
S
S
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000191:economics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012648:Self Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014942:Workers' Compensation