Comparison of risk factors predicting return to work between patients with subacute and chronic non-specific low back pain: systematic review

The objective of the study was to provide an inventory of predictive instruments and their constituting parameters associated with return to work in patients with subacute (2–10 weeks pain duration) and chronic (10–24 weeks pain duration) non-specific low back pain (NSLBP). Data sources included systematic review in Medline, Embase, Cinahl, Central, PEDro, Psyndex, PsychInfo/PsycLit, and Sociofile up to September 2008, in reference lists of systematic reviews on risk factors, and of included studies. For the systematic review, two reviewers independently assessed study eligibility and quality, and extracted data. Disagreements were resolved by consensus. Risk factors were inventorised and grouped into a somatic and psychosocial domain. 23 studies reporting on subacute and 16 studies reporting on chronic patients were included. The studies on subacute patients reported on a total of 56 biomedical factors out of which 35 (63%) were modifiable and 61 psychosocial factors out of which 51 (84%) were modifiable. The corresponding values in studies on chronic patients were 44 biomedical [27 (62%) modifiable] and 61 [40 (66%) modifiable] respectively. Our data suggest that the interdisciplinary approach in patients at risk to develop persistent NSLBP is justified in both, the subacute and chronic disease stages. Psychosocial interventions might be more effective in subacute stages since a higher proportion of modifiable risk factors were identified in that group

The impact of aerobic fitness on functioning in chronic back pain

Despite lack of convincing evidence that reduced aerobic fitness is associated with chronic back pain (CBP), exercise programs are regarded as being effective for persons with non-specific CBP. It is unsure whether gain in aerobic fitness following intervention is associated with functioning improvement in persons with CBP. The objective of this prospective cohort study was to study the impact of aerobic fitness on functioning in persons with CBP, at baseline and following 3-week intensive interdisciplinary intervention. This study included persons who had passed 8 weeks of sick-listing because of back pain (n = 94) and were referred to a 3-week intensive biopsychosocial rehabilitation program. Aerobic fitness was assessed with a sub-maximal bicycle test at baseline, at admission to and discharge from the rehabilitation program, and at 6 months follow-up. Contextual factors, body function, activity and participation were evaluated before and after intervention. In addition, working ability was recorded at 3-years follow-up. At baseline aerobic fitness was reduced in most subjects, but improved significantly following intervention. Baseline measurements and intervention effects did not differ among the diagnostic sub-groups. Neither contextual factors nor functioning at baseline were associated with aerobic fitness. Increase in aerobic fitness was not associated with improvements in functioning and contextual factors and work-return following intervention either. From this study we conclude that improvement of aerobic fitness seems of limited value as goal of treatment outcome for patients with CBP