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    Prognosis and Course of Disability in Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A 5- and 12-Month Follow-up Cohort Study

    Publication of Innovations in Care

    A.L. Pool-Goudzwaard, B.W. Koes, H.S. Miedema, P.A.J. Luijsterburg, I. Ronchetti, M.W. Heymans, K. Verkerk | Article | Publication date: 03 March 2013
    There is no strong evidence to support the claim that 80% to 90% of patients with low back pain (LBP) become pain-free within 1 month; on average, 62% (range42%–75%) of the patients still experienced back pain after 12 months.1 Studies following patients over a 12-month period have shown that LBP is characterized as having periodic attacks and temporary remissions, rather than being “chronic.” Shorter periods of temporary remissions are frequently seen in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP) (12 weeks) in combination with higher levels of limitations in activities. A recent meta-analysis5 reported that patients with acute, subacute (12 weeks), and persistent (12 weeks to 12 months) LBP experienced substantial reductions in pain and improvement in disability in the first 6 weeks, but only very small reductions in average pain and disability between 6 and 52 weeks were demonstrated. The course of limitations in activities among patients with CNSLBP varies per patient. Therefore, knowledge of the course and prognostic factors of disability experienced by patients with CNSLBP might be clinically relevant for optimizing rehabilitation. The rehabilitation of normal patterns or activities of movements in patients with CNSLBP is a focus during multidisciplinary treatment.

    Author(s) - affiliated with Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences

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