title: Management options of chronic low back pain. A randomized blinded clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare efficacies of 2 active programs in the management of chronic low back pain (CLBP).
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective, stratified, randomized single-blinded controlled study was conducted in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, King Abdullah University Hospital, Irbid, Jordan, between February and December 2010. A total of 100 patients were randomized to either 6-weeks of multidisciplinary rehabilitation (group A) or therapist-assisted exercise (group B). At baseline and 6 weeks, the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score was estimated, as a primary outcome measure. McGill pain score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), trunk forward flexion and extension, left and right lateral bending, were applied before and after treatment and were employed as secondary outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All outcome measures significantly improved in group A after treatment, compared with group B. The VAS, McGill, ODI scores, left and right lateral bending decreased significantly, whereas forward and backward bending increased. A significant number of patients returned to work in group A at the end of 6 weeks, compared with group B. These effects were maintained over 12 and 24 weeks of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multidisciplinary rehabilitation improved functional indices and pain scale scores in group A compared with B. This would be an effective strategy in CLBP management.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Allied Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
authors.forename: Mahmoud E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Nazzal
authors.forename: Mohammed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Saadah
authors.forename: Loai M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Saadah
authors.forename: Mahmoud A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Al-Omari
authors.forename: Ziad A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Al-Oudat
authors.forename: Mohammed S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nazzal
authors.forename: Mahfoud Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: El-Beshari
authors.forename: Amani A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Zaabi
authors.forename: Yousif I
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Alnuaimi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; D016896:Treatment Outcome