title: Back to work - a two-year outcome of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme focused on physical function and pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze why some responded positively to rehabilitation and why some did not.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty participants with musculoskeletal disorders, mainly neck and back pain participated in a 7-week rehabilitation programme which was based on a combination of theoretical and practical education and physical activities. Before and after the programme and 6, 12 and 24 months after completion of the programme all participants were evaluated with the Disability Rating Index (DRI) and Pain Intensity Rating on a Visual analogue scale (VAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the participants who had full-time sick leave from the start of the programme to the 2-year follow-up (Group I) self-experienced physical disability and pain ratings were high and showed no decrease and were maintained up until the 2-year follow-up. For the participants who had part-time sick leave or no sick leave (Group II) physical disability and pain ratings were initially lower than in Group I and decreased gradually, (p < 0.01) and (p < 0.05), respectively throughout the 2-year follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants in Group I did not benefit from the rehabilitation programme and did not show improvement in their physical disability and pain rating. Group II showed decreased physical disability and pain rating. The decrease was gradual and was maintained up until the 2-year follow-up period. These results may indicate that persons with musculoskeletal pain with severe disability and pain require other rehabilitation programmes than those with moderate symptoms. This research has highlighted the need for development of such programmes.
authors.affiliation: Stromsund Health Centre, Jamtland County Council, Stromsund. rita.sjostrom@jll.se
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sjostrom
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alricsson
authors.forename: Ragnar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Asplund
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nordenmark
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D049670:History, 17th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010146:Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D018582:Sick Leave