RECOVERY FROM LOW-BACK-PAIN - 1-5-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF 287 INJURY-RELATED CASES

This study investigated the factors affecting recovery from low back i njury. The study population was designed to be representative of patie nts presenting with back pain following soft tissue injury. A minimum follow up rate of 90 percent was achieved with a length of elapsed tim e from the injury of up to five years. Three established methods of as sessment of disability and functional capacity (The Oswestry disabilit y scale, The Waddell disability scale and The Waddell physical impairm ent rating) were compared to each other and a new scale (The Low-Back Outcome Scale) for the measurement of a patient's performance in emplo yment, social activities and activities of daily living. The relations hips of these scales to employment, psychological disturbance and othe r factors were defined. The Outcome Score designed for use in this stu dy provided a comprehensive and discriminating assessment of patient f unction. Compensation (particularly lump sum claims), psychological di sturbance at review, time off work, and age at injury were important f actors in recovery; the diagnosis, type and severity of injury, migran t status and neurological deficits were not. Eight psychometric instru ments were examined, and the combination of The Zung Depression Scale and The Modified Somatic Perception Questionnaire was found to be the most accurate in determining the presence of psychological disturbance in patients with low back pain.