Research Plus

Physical conditioning for back pain

A systematic review fails to find consistent evidence to support the use of physical conditioning programmes to improve work outcomes in those with back pain (23 randomised controlled trials included). It finds no impact on sickness absence for workers with acute back pain, conflicting results for those with subacute pain, and a small impact on sickness absence up to one year for those with chronic pain (the effect disappears with longer-term follow-up).

Schaafsma F, Schonstein E et al. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health 2010; online first: 9 August.

Tags back pain evidence based practice

Occupational Health at Work October/November 2010 (vol. 07/3) pp41