Abstract des Autors

Problem: 80% of the industrial population experience low back pain at some time in their lives. The intention of the study was the evaluation of a multimodal therapeutic program for patients with chronic low back pain (,Goettinger Ruecken Intensiv Programm"). Methods: 90 patients with a mean age of 42 years, pain duration of more than 12 years and inability to work for 7.5 months participated in the study. Groups of 8-10 patients took part in an out-patient 8 week rehabilitation program consisting of education, stretching, strength and endurance-training, back school, relaxation and psychotherapy. Pain and somatic and psychological variables were evaluated before, after, as well as 6 months and 1 year after the program. Results: Pain intensity was reduced; somatic and psychological parameters improved throughout therapy. These effects were stable at 12 months after the program. Conclusions: The multimodal program had positive somatic and psychological effects on the patients with chronic low back pain. Verf.-Referat