Multidisciplinary interventions: review of studies of return to work after rehabilitation for low back pain.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyse the efficacy of multidisciplinary interventions on return to work for people on sick leave due to low back pain.


METHODS
A systematic review of published studies was performed, including a meta-analysis. Identified publications were assessed for relevance and study quality.


RESULTS
A meta-analysis based on 5 studies from Scandinavia verified the scientific evidence for the efficacy of multidisciplinary interventions on return to work.


CONCLUSIONS
Although long-term sick leave due to low back pain represents a large problem for the community and multidisciplinary interventions are often advocated, surprisingly few published studies have return to work as an outcome. There is evidence for a clinically relevant effect of multidisciplinary interventions on return to work.
Norlund
Anders
A
Section for Personal Injury Prevention, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. norlund@sbu.se
Ropponen
Annina
A
Alexanderson
Kristina
K
D002908:Chronic Disease; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000379:methods*; D018582:Sick Leave