Objective: To evaluate the use of standard outcome measures in assessing individuals attending a functional restoration programme with chronic back pain.

Design: Prospective collection of data from standard outcome measures used to assess patients attending a functional restoration programme. Data was collected before the start of the programme and six weeks, six months and one year after completion of the programme.

Subjects: There were 69 individuals (33 males and 36 females) with an average age of 41 years, who attended the programme from February 1999 to February 2001.

Outcome measures: Visual Analogue Score (VAS) for pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Short Form 36 (SF36), the Distress Risk Assessment Measures (MSP and MZDI)

Results: During the follow-up period, outcome scores showed only modest improvement compared to pre-programme scores. This was not necessarily reflected in the clinical and functional progress of patients.

Conclusions: Standard outcome measure may not necessarily reflect patient response to rehabilitation programmes.