[Treatment for chronic back pain? : Active multimodal, interdisciplinary pain therapy vs. physiotherapy-physical therapy for chronic back pain]

Abstract

Background: In industrialized countries, chronic back pain is referred to as the "number one common disease".

Objectives: Are there any indications of different outcomes of chronic back pain patients when treated with a multimodal, interdisciplinary pain therapy (MMSTh) compared to physiotherapy-physical therapy?

Materials and methods: Entrance and final examination by means of survey, questionnaires and physical tests in the intervention and control group, evaluation and comparison of the results.

Results: The intervention group showed very significant improvements in all tests. In contrast, the control group achieved only partial improvements in physical parameters and quality of life. This resulted in clear group differences in favor of the MMSTh. In terms of patient satisfaction, the control group showed a better result than the intervention group.

Conclusions: Treatment with MMSTh is superior to standard physiotherapy-physical. Due to the extensive, proven positive effect on many pain-causing and pain-preserving factors, multimodal pain centers should be used more frequently in chronic back pain patients.

Keywords: Active therapy measures; Chronic back pain; Interdisciplinary pain therapy; Multimodal pain therapy; Physical therapy.