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Occupational low back pain: Recovery curves and factors associated with disability

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Abstract

Review of the literature shows significant variation in the rates of recovery from an episode of low back pain (LBP). Two hundred and seven workers filing a “First Report of Injury” form with the Vermont Department of Labor and Industry were contacted 3 months post-injury to determine time until first return-to-work, work status, lost workdays, and factors such as pain intensity and satisfaction with health care. Overall, 69.4% of the workers had first returned to work within 1 week, 85.9% within 1 month, and 93.7% by 3 months. Three months post-injury, 8.7% of these workers were not working (disabled) due to their LBP. On a scale of 0–10, the disabled reported substantially more pain in the past few days (p=.0001) and a higher level of “worst pain since injury” (p=.004). Those disabled were less likely to feel they had received the right treatment for their LBP (p=.05). Researchers and clinicians need a clear understanding of recovery curves to assess the effectiveness of any interventions.

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Author notes

  1. Sheila Reid

    Present address: Spine Institute of New England, Box 1043, 05495-1043, Williston, Vermont

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vermont Back Research Center, Burlington, Vermont

    Sheila Reid, Larry D. Haugh, Rowland G. Hazard & Mukta Tripathi

  2. Statistics Program, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont

    Larry D. Haugh & Mukta Tripathi

  3. Spine Institute of New England, Box 1043, 05495-1043, Williston, Vermont

    Rowland G. Hazard

  4. Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, McClure Musculoskeletal Research Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont

    Rowland G. Hazard

Authors
  1. Sheila Reid
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  2. Larry D. Haugh
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  3. Rowland G. Hazard
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  4. Mukta Tripathi
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Reid, S., Haugh, L.D., Hazard, R.G. et al. Occupational low back pain: Recovery curves and factors associated with disability. J Occup Rehab 7, 1–14 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02765872

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