title: Functional Capacity Evaluation: Performance of Patients with Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain Without Waddell Signs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of Waddell signs (WS) on Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) undergoing fitness for work evaluation. If an effect is observed, the secondary objective is to report performance of patients without WS in a standardized 1 day FCE protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey of patients with CNSLBP as their primary complaint, referred for fitness for work evaluation, age between 20 and 60 years. Main outcome measures were WS and performance during manual handling assessed with lifting from floor to waist, waist to crown, horizontal and one handed carry; grip strength with Jamar hand held Dynamometer; ambulation with stair climbing and six minute walking test; work postures with elevated work, forward bend standing, kneeling, and sitting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  145 male with a mean age of 44.5 years (±10.1), and 53 females with a mean age of 43.6 years (±11.0) were included. Mean days off work were in male 658 (±1,056) and in female 642 (±886). 33% of all patients presented positive WS. FCE performance in male and female patients with positive and negative WS differed significantly in all comparisons except grip strength of the dominant hand and sitting in female. Performance of patients with negative WS indicated a mean physical capacity corresponding to lightmedium work in females and medium work in males for both age groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WS should be assessed for interpretation of FCE results. Despite long work absence, patients with CNSLBP with negative WS demonstrated a physical capacity corresponding to substantial physical work demands.
authors.affiliation: Kliniken Valens, Valens, Switzerland, peter.oesch@kliniken-valens.ch.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oesch
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kool
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013557:Switzerland; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation