DO PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN EXPERIENCE PAIN REDUCTION AND FUNCTIONAL IMPROVEMENT AFTER TREATMENT AT A MULTIDISCIPLINARY OUTPATIENT CLINIC?

Anja  Norbye; Aina V  Omdal; Marit E  Nygaard; Guttorm  Eldøen; Ulla  Romild; Rune  Midgard

doi:10.15621/ijphy/2017/v4i2/141943

Authors

Anja Norbye Department of Neurology, Molde Hospital, Møre and Romsdal Health Trust, Norway.
Aina V Omdal Department of Neurology, Molde Hospital, Møre and Romsdal Health Trust, Norway
Marit E Nygaard Department of Neurology, Molde Hospital, Møre and Romsdal Health Trust, Norway.
Guttorm Eldøen Department of Neurology, Molde Hospital, Møre and Romsdal Health Trust, Norway
Ulla Romild Swedish National Institute of Public Health, Ostersund, Sweden
Rune Midgard Molde Hospital, Møre and Romsdal Health Trust, and Unit for Applied Clinical Research, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.

Abstract

Background: Low back pain is the most common affliction of the musculoskeletal system. Patients with chronic low back pain cost the society great expenses in treatments and other social benefits; however, the effects of interventions are discussed. The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients with chronic low back pain experience pain reduction and functional improvement after treatment at a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic.
Methods: A prospective study design was used, including 446 patients who participated in follow-up questionnaires with data collection at 6 and 12 months after treatment. The primary outcome was alterations in pain and function.
Result: By 12 months after treatment, 71.3 % of the included patients had completed the follow-up questionnaires. Based on these questionnaires, we identified statistically significant changes from baseline at all end points, with clinically significant changes in approximately half of the participants (p = 0.000).
Conclusion: Treatment of chronic low back pain at a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic resulted in clinically significant pain reduction and functional improvement within 12 months for approximately half of affected patients.