Abstract
Objectives
This paper describes the outcomes obtained from a 12 hour group based multidisciplinary functional restoration programme for patients with persistent low back pain who presented with psychosocial obstacles to recovery. The programme was designed to address modifiable psychosocial obstacles to recovery over a four week period, reduce pain related disability, improve pain self-efficacy and reduce patients' reliance on analgesic medication.
Design
A single group retrospective analysis.
Participants
Data from 54 participants with non-specific low back pain (Male = 26. Female =28, mean age 43.7yrs) who attended a four week functional restoration programme between September 2012 and June 2013 were analysed.
Results
There was a statistically significant improvement between Oswestry Disability Index and Pain Self Efficacy scores before and after the treatment intervention, and at 9 month follow-up (p<0.001). When only scores at the end of the treatment intervention and month 9 were compared there was no significant difference (p=0.184 for ODI, p=0.341 for PSEQ). Patients also self-reported reduced reliance on analgesic medication after the treatment intervention and at 9 month follow-up.
Conclusion
The findings indicate that a group based multidisciplinary functional restoration programme for patients with persistent low back pain, which targets modifiable obstacles to recovery, can be effective in reducing disability, improving self-efficacy and reducing reliance on medication in both the short and medium term.
This article has also been published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/msc.1078 in Musculoskeletal Care Journal (2014) © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Conflicts of interest: No conflicts of interest
Sources of funding: No funding obtained