["Work hardening" for chonic back pain. An integral component of multimodal therapy programs]

Work hardening is aimed at a reestablishment of the potentials needed in occupational everyday life. Fundamental motor abilities, such as strength, stability, flexibility and persistence, are restored and merged into the everyday life so that psychological contents, such as fear avoidance behavior will be positively affected. The design of work hardening is interdisciplinary in the sense of a holistic approach to back pain. Handling the pain under load requires sophisticated treatment and the training demands a high degree of individual design. A trusting and mutual agreement between therapist and patient is essential. Work hardening represents an important part of the therapy of chronic back pain and greatly supports regaining confidence in the physical efficiency and the ability to control the body.