EFFECTIVENESS OF BACK SCHOOL FOR TREATMENT OF PAIN AND FUNCTIONAL DISABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the addition of back school to exercise and,physical treatment modalities in relieving pain and improving the functional status of patients with chronic low back pain. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Patients: A total of 146 patients with chronic low back pain were enrolled in the study. Methods: Subjects were divided into 2 groups: the back school group received exercise, physical treatment modalities and a back school programme; and the control group received exercise and physical treatment modalities. Treatment efficacy was evaluated at the end of treatment and 3 months post-treatment, in terms of pain, measured with the Visual Analogue Scale, and functional status, measured with the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire. Results: In both groups, Visual Analogue Scale and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire were significantly reduced after therapy (p<0.01), but the difference between the scores at the end of treatment and 3 months post-treatment was not significant. There was a significant improvement in Visual Analogue Scale and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire in the back school group compared with the control group at the end of therapy and 3 months post-treatment (p<0.05). Conclusion: The addition of back school was more effective than exercise and physical treatment modalities alone in the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain.