Sturla Storrø ^A1, Janne Moen ^A1, Sven Svebak ^A2
A1 Clinic of Physical Medicine 3T Trondheim Norway
^A2 The Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway

DOI: 10.1080/11026480310015521

Objective: To test the outcome of active multidisciplinary treatment in an outpatient setting upon sick-leave status among patients with neck, shoulder and low back pain. Design: Multidisciplinary treatment was administered to 121 patients (intervention group) over 4 weeks of structured intervention, followed by 8 weeks of less structured consultations. Effects of treatment were compared with usual treatment (control group: n = 97). Patients: All patients were in the chronic stage of pain (average sick-leave: 6 months) with different diagnoses: neck-shoulder pain, low back pain or low back pain with radiating extremity pain. Method: The intervention group programme included posture corrections, pain perception, skills to cope with pain, aerobic and fitness-promoting activities and relaxation techniques administered to groups of 8-10 patients. The Local National Insurance Office referred the patients who were diagnosed by general practitioners. A 12-month follow-up by the Local National Insurance Office provided feedback about sick-leave status of all 218 patients. Results: There was a significant treatment difference in proportion taken off the sick list after 12 months (intervention group: 78. 5%; control group: 50. 5%; p < 0. 001). The difference was greater among low back pain (p < 0. 001) than among neck-shoulder (p < 0. 053) and low back pain with radiating extremity pain (p < 0. 031) patients. Conclusion: Long-term effects of active multidisciplinary treatment were superior to treatment as usual in all diagnostic groups.