Study: Rehab Programs Involving Activity Help Workers With Back Pain Stay on the Job

Workers with back pain are less likely to miss work if they undergo rehabilitation programs that involve some type of physical activity under supervision of a physical therapist, according to a study reported in the January 19 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Low back pain is a common medical problem frequently associated with disability and absence from work. However, data on effective return to work after interventions for low back pain is scarce, according to the researchers.

The researchers studied whether subjecting workers with persistent low back pain return to an activity program would be better than usual care in getting them back to work. The study involved 134 Dutch airline workers who had missed work at least four successive weeks because of low back pain.

The participants were randomly assigned to undergo one-hour activity programs two times per week or usual care without physical activity. The activities in the activity program included exercises that imitated tasks at work that were difficult and painful such as lifting suitcases.

Occupational physicians delivered usual care, which included advice about ergonomics, ways to prevent injuries and return-to-work schedules. All workers reported their pain and ability to function at three and six months. Researchers reviewed company records at six months to assess the number of days that workers worked.

During the six-month follow-up, workers who went through the activity program missed fewer days of work than those receiving usual care. The activity group missed 58 days of work, while workers receiving usual care missed 87 days. Workers in both groups reported less pain and improved ability to function.

"A graded activity program that emphasized the safety of physical activity despite pain returned workers with low back pain to work more often than did usual care," concluded the researchers.

Other sources: Annals of Internal Medicine, 140;2: 77-84