[Results of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation concept in patients with chronic lumbar syndromes]

Abstract

The aim of our pilot study was to evaluate the influence of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme on various parameters of pain and function in 88 patients suffering from chronic low back pain caused by disc herniation (46 patients) or after lumbar discectomy (42 patients). We used an exercise-based multidisciplinary programme during a four-week in-patient treatment: active physiotherapy, exercise training and back school, organized in group therapies combined with passive techniques of physiotherapy (heat, massage, electrotherapy, medicated bath) with a daily duration of treatment exceeding three hours. Symptoms and functions improved simultaneously with the reduction of pain. The results of the visual analogue scale improved significantly in both groups (conservatively treated group p < 0.0001, after lumbar discectomy p < 0.005). As for the McGill pain questionnaire, however, only the group with conservatively treated disc herniations changed significantly for the better. We found an improvement in Roland-Morris' disability questionnaire in both groups, which reached statistical significance only in the group after lumbar discectomy. Forward-backward bending (kyphometer measurement as described by Debrunner), ameliorated significantly in both groups. Our results indicate that an exercise based multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme can improve pain and function even in patients suffering from definitely chronic low back pain caused by disc herniation or after lumbar discectomy.