Pain and functional outcomes after outpatient physiotherapy in patients with low back pain.

Abstract

Physiotherapy treatment programs are recommended in the rehabilitation of low back pain (LBP). Rehabilitation institutions are increasingly asked to demonstrate the outcomes of their intensive physiotherapy services. To describe pain and functional outcome measures following a6-month outpatient physiotherapy treatment program in patients with LBP. A total of 85patients were analysed after being treated with acombination of physiotherapeutic treatment modalities 2-3days weekly. Pain and disability were measured before, 3 and 6months after the onset of treatment. Isometric trunk muscle strength for flexion and extension and flexibility of dorsal trunk and thigh structures were measured before and 6months after treatment. After 6months, pain at rest decreased from amedian of 4.0 to 0.0 (p< 0.01) and pain during activity from amedian of 5.5 to 2.0 on the numeric rating scale (p< 0.001). The Roland-Morris Disability (RMDQ) score decreased from amedian of 7.0 to 3.0 (p< 0.001). Mean trunk muscle flexion strength increased from 133.7 to 156.0 Nm and for extension from 235.5 to 278.3 Nm (p< 0.001). Flexibility was improved from amean of -5.9 to -1.4 cm (p< 0.001). Amoderate correlation between pain at rest and RMDQ score was found after 3 (r= 0.532, p< 0.01) and 6months (r= 0.508, p< 0.01). Patients with LBP who were treated with the physiotherapeutic treatment program showed aclinically relevant reduction of pain and disability with improved trunk muscle strength and flexibility. Reductions in pain and disability do not seem to correlate with increased trunk muscle strength and flexibility. No conclusions can be declared about long-term changes after the intervention.