The effects of a back rehabilitation programme for patients with chronic low back pain.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this paper was to perform a pragmatic before-after analysis of a back rehabilitation programme (BRP) for patients with chronic low back pain (LBP). A total of 877 patients were recruited onto the BRP, which were carried out at four centres within the Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust. The BRP consisted of nine 2-hour group sessions of therapy run over 5 weeks and included 1 hour of exercise and 1 hour of education, advice problem solving and goal setting.


METHODS
Using the Wilcoxen signed rank tests and paired t-tests levels of pain, disability, anxiety and depression were significantly reduced pre-post programme (P < 0.001). In addition, the levels of fitness and perceived control improved significantly (P < 0.001) suggesting that participants were better able to manage their LBP.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the BRP proved to be effective in reducing pain, disability, anxiety and depression levels for people with chronic LBP. However, despite significant improvements in outcome measures only 50% of the patients completed the BRP and questionnaires post BRP. The implications of the findings are discussed with respect to modified programmes and alternative management for patients within different subgroups of LBP.
Gaskell
Lynne
L
Directorate of Physiotherapy, University of Salford, Salford, UK. l.e.gaskell@salford.ac.uk
Enright
Stephanie
S
Tyson
Sarah
S
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010809:Physical Fitness; D016896:Treatment Outcome