Short-term outcomes of a back school program for chronic low back pain.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the short-term outcome of a back school program for patients suffering from chronic, nonspecific low back pain (LBP).


METHODS
Quasi-experimental cohort study with a waiting list control group.


METHODS
Dutch rehabilitation department.


METHODS
Experimental group (n = 14) participating in the back school program and a waiting list control group (n = 10).


METHODS
A back school program aimed to achieve optimal functional capacity and functional health status by teaching participants to react appropriately to overload signals.


METHODS
Functional capacity assessed by the RAND-36 instrument; functional health status assessed by the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire; and static and dynamic lifting capacity, endurance, and range of motion assessed by objective measures.


RESULTS
The experimental group significantly improved in functional capacity and functional health status, with a large power, likely attributable to adequate reactions to signals of overload. Significant differences existed between the 2 groups, with large powers for the main outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
The back school program improved the functional capacity and functional health status of patients with chronic, nonspecific LBP.
Hodselmans
A P
AP
Rehabilitation Center Beatrixoord, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. P.Hodselmans@Beatrixoord.nl
Jaegers
S M
SM
Göeken
L N
LN
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011897:Random Allocation; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires