Symptom increase following a functional capacity evaluation in patients with chronic low back pain: an explorative study of safety.
BACKGROUND
This study was performed to study intensity and duration of symptom increase following an FCE and to explore safety of an FCE.


METHODS
Included were 92 patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), mean age 38.5 years, mean self-reported disability 12.5 (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire). All patients underwent an FCE. Symptom increase was measured with a 2-item questionnaire. Operational definition for safety: no formal complaint filed and symptom increase to occur only temporarily.


RESULTS
No formal complaints were filed (n=92). In total, 54 patients returned the questionnaire (59%; 'responders'). Of the responders, 76% reported increased symptom intensity after an FCE, ranging from 'little increase' to 'severe increase'. Symptoms of all responders returned to pre-FCE level. Duration of symptom increase of the responders ranged from 1 day to 3 weeks. Symptom increase resided to pre-FCE level within 1 week in 93% of the responders. Symptom increase was weakly related to self-reported disability (r=0.38, p<0.05). Except for gender, differences between responders and non-responders were non-significant.


CONCLUSIONS
A temporary increase in symptom intensity following an FCE is common. Within the operational definitions of safety used in this study, assessment of functional capacity of patients with CLBP appears safe.
Reneman
Michiel F
MF
Center for Rehabilitation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 30.002, 9750, RA, The Netherlands. m.reneman@cvr.umcg.nl
Kuijer
Wietske
W
Brouwer
Sandra
S
Preuper
H R Schiphorst
HR
Groothoff
Johan W
JW
Geertzen
Jan H B
JH
Dijkstra
Pieter U
PU
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012449:Safety; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires