Effectiveness of a semi-intensive multidisciplinary outpatient rehabilitation program in chronic low back pain

To evaluate the efficacy of a semi-intensive multidisciplinary outpatient program complying with the requirements of the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance and intended for patients with chronic low back pain.

We included 262 patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain, among whom 136 (73 women and 63 men) with a mean pain duration of 11.3 years completed the outpatient program (36 sessions each lasting 2h). The program consisted of education about back-sparing techniques, interventions by an occupational therapist and psychologist, and physical reconditioning. Three sessions (sessions 1, 18, and 36) were used to evaluate pain intensity, functional impairment, kinesiophobia, cognitive knowledge, knowledge of appropriate spinal movement technique, and physical performance (trunk muscle strength and endurance, mobility of the pelvis and lumbar spine, and aerobic capacity).

All study variables were significantly improved at study completion compared to baseline: pain intensity was decreased by 44%, functional impairment by 40%, and kinesiophobia by 11% whereas knowledge was improved by 59%, back-sparing technique by 95%, trunk muscle strength by 40% on average, trunk extensor muscle endurance by 90%, mobility by 8%, and aerobic capacity by 18%.

A semi-intensive multidisciplinary outpatient program was beneficial in patients with chronic low back pain. Careful patient selection and increased patient involvement in the program may help to improve adherence.