Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of three types of physiotherapy used to reduce chronic low back pain disability: a pragmatic randomized trial with economic evaluation.
METHODS
Pragmatic, randomized, assessor blinded, clinical trial with economic analysis.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of three kinds of physiotherapy commonly used to reduce disability in chronic low back pain.


BACKGROUND
Physiotherapy reduces disability in chronic back pain, but there are several forms of physiotherapy and it is unclear which is most effective or cost effective.


METHODS
A total of 212 patients referred to physiotherapy with chronic low back pain were randomized to receive usual outpatient physiotherapy, spinal stabilization classes, or physiotherapist-led pain management classes. Primary outcome was Roland Disability Questionnaire score 18 months from baseline; secondary measures were pain, health-related quality of life, and time off work. Healthcare costs associated with low back pain and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were also measured. RESULTS.: A total of 71 participants were assigned to usual outpatient physiotherapy, 72 to spinal stabilization, and 69 to physiotherapist-led pain management. A total of 160 (75%) provided follow-up data at 18 months, showing similar improvements with all interventions: mean (95% confidence intervals) Roland Disability Questionnaire score improved from 11.1 (9.6-12.6) to 6.9 (5.3-8.4) with usual outpatient physiotherapy, 12.8 (11.4-14.2) to 6.8 (4.9-8.6) with spinal stabilization, and 11.5 (9.8-13.1) to 6.5 (4.5-8.6) following pain management classes. Pain, quality of life, and time off work also improved within all groups with no between-group differences. Mean (SD) healthcare costs and QALY gain were pound474 (840) and 0.99 (0.27) for individual physiotherapy, pound379 (1040) and 0.90 (0.37) for spinal stabilization, and pound165 (202) and 1.00 (0.28) for pain management.


CONCLUSIONS
For chronic low back pain, all three physiotherapy regimens improved disability and other relevant health outcomes, regardless of their content. Physiotherapist-led pain management classes offer a cost-effective alternative to usual outpatient physiotherapy and are associated with less healthcare use. A more widespread adoption of physiotherapist-led pain management could result in considerable cost savings for healthcare providers.
Critchley
Duncan J
DJ
Academic Department of Physiotherapy, School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, King's College London, London, UK. duncan.critchley@kcl.ac.uk
Ratcliffe
Julie
J
Noonan
Sandra
S
Jones
Roger H
RH
Hurley
Michael V
MV
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003625:Data Collection; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000191:economics; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D016896:Treatment Outcome