title: Course and prognosis of recovery for chronic non-specific low back pain: design, therapy program and baseline data of a prospective cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There has been increasing focus on factors predicting the development of chronic musculoskeletal disorders. For patients already experiencing chronic non-specific low back pain it is also relevant to investigate which prognostic factors predict recovery. We present the design of a cohort study that aims to determine the course and prognostic factors for recovery in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  All participating patients were recruited (Jan 2003-Dec 2008) from the same rehabilitation centre and were evaluated by means of (postal) questionnaires and physical examinations at baseline, during the 2-month therapy program, and at 5 and 12 months after start of therapy. The therapy protocol at the rehabilitation centre used a bio-psychosocial approach to stimulate patients to adopt adequate (movement) behaviour aimed at physical and functional recovery. The program is part of regular care and consists of 16 sessions of 3 hours each, over an 8-week period (in total 48 hours), followed by a 3-month self-management program. The primary outcomes are low back pain intensity, disability, quality of life, patient's global perceived effect of recovery, and participation in work. Baseline characteristics include information on socio-demographics, low back pain, employment status, and additional clinical items status such as fatigue, duration of activities, and fear of kinesiophobia. Prognostic variables are determined for recovery at short-term (5 months) and long-term (12 months) follow-up after start of therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a routine clinical setting it is important to provide patients suffering from chronic non-specific low back pain with adequate information about the prognosis of their complaint.
authors: Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. k.verkerk@hr.nl
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Verkerk
authors: Pim A J
authors: PA
authors: Luijsterburg
authors: Inge
authors: I
authors: Ronchetti
authors: Harald S
authors: HS
authors: Miedema
authors: Annelies
authors: A
authors: Pool-Goudzwaard
authors: Jan-Paul
authors: JP
authors: van Wingerden
authors: Bart W
authors: BW
authors: Koes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D011379:Prognosis; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies