FUNCTIONAL RESTORATION IN CHRONIC LOW-BACK-PAIN

Conventional treatments have not slowed down the ever expanding low ba ck pain (LBP) problem. Traditional treatment has most probably contrib uted to the growth of the problem. Therefore, in a search for new solu tions, 'functional restoration' has been devised. In connection with c hronic LBP the term has been associated with a full-day program lastin g from 3 to 5 weeks. It includes multidisciplinary treatment of patien ts in groups with intensive physical and ergonomic training, psycholog ical pain management, back school, as well as teaching in social/work related issues. The key concepts are 'acceptance of the pain', 'activi ty', 'self-responsibility', 'multidisciplinary' and 'quantitative func tional evaluation (QFE)'. The latter is aimed so that the participants can feel the physical improvement, encouraging them to be able to go back to work, or at least to lead a more active life style. Several co ntrolled studies suggest a lasting effect in terms of regaining their ability to work and improving pain behavior for a good part of disable d chronic LBP patients. However, it is noteworthy that randomized stud ies seemingly show poorer results than studies not employing randomize d controls.