Conservative care of low back pain with emphasis on isokinetic exercise

Twenty patients with complaints of low back pain were treated using a sports medicine approach to rehabilitation with isokinetic back exercises for therapy and testing. Nineteen of the 20 patients were returned to regular work, and the remaining patient was able to resume light work. Physical therapy averaged 5.4 weeks in patients without a disc problem. As extensor strength increased in concurrent testing, pain symptoms decreased. A suggestion of an end point to physical therapy was noted, i.e., no further increase in extensor strength on concurrent testing.