Study Finds Integrative Care Reduces Disability Due to Chronic Low Back Pain

 

Patients were randomly assigned to either usual care or integrated care. Integrated care consisted of adjustments to the workplace and a graded exercise program to teach patients how to move safely while increasing activity levels. The main aim of the program was to restore occupational functioning and to achieve lasting return to work for patients in their own job or similar work. 

 

The usual care group received normal pain treatment with usually little or no workplace involvement. 

 

Patients completed questionnaires at the start of the study and after three, six, nine and 12 months. Sickness absence data was collected every month. 

 

Over the 12-month study period, patients who received integrated care returned to sustainable work after an average of 88 days compared with 208 days for patients receiving usual care, an average reduction of 120 days. 

 

After one year patients in the integrated care group also reportedly improved significantly more on functional status compared to patients in the usual care group. No statistically significant differences in pain improvement were found between the two groups. (workersxzcompxzkit)

 

The integrated care program was reported to reduce substantially disability due to chronic low back pain in both working and private life, according to the authors. 

Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers' Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: [email protected] or 860-553-6604.