Comprehensive treatment of acute and chronic low back pain: a clinical outcome comparison

A comparative clinical outcome study was conducted with two groups of physician-referred patients suffering either acute (Group A) or chronic (Group B) low back pain (LBP) and receiving treatment in a hospital-based comprehensive rehabilitation program. Twenty-six patients assigned to the acute-pain group suffered the onset of LBP within the preceding two months prior to treatment. Thirty patients assigned to the chronic pain group suffered the onset of LBP greater than six months prior to treatment. Results at discharge indicated minimal outcome differences between the treatment groups. However, at three-month follow-up the acute LBP group demonstrated a distinctly more favorable clinical outcome in terms of 1) maintenance of increased physical activity, 2) medication elimination, 3) reduction in subjective pain intensity, 4) reduction in healthcare utilization, and 5) return to productivity. Treatment implications regarding conservative versus restorative management approaches are discussed.