[Common lumbago and returning to work: various thoughts about a complex problem]

Non specific low back pain (NSLBP) is commonly a persistent or recurrent problem. In general the longer a worker is off work with NSLBP, the more disabling the condition becomes, the less successful any form of treatment, and the greater the probability of long term sickness absence. The obstacles to return to work are diverse. Scientific evidence shows that the development of chronic low back pain and disability depends more on individual and work-related psychosocial issues than on physical or clinical features. There is strong empirical evidence that treatment at the subacute stage (NSLBP lasting for approximately 5-12 weeks) is more effective at preventing chronic pain and disability than attempts to treat chronic intractable pain and disability once it is established. Active rehabilitation programmes should be interdisciplinary, adapted to the local socioeconomic context and include education toward overcoming fear avoidance beliefs and promoting self-care, some kind of active exercises, some behavioural principles of pain management, and some intervention at the workplace to help and assist the worker in early return to work. Some of these programs have produced desirable occupational outcomes when all the stakeholders in the disability problem (worker, employer, insurer, attending physician) worked together.