“The clinical effects
of intensive, specific exercise on chronic low back
pain: a controlled study of 895 consecutive patients
with 1-year follow up.” B.
Nelson, E. O'Reilly,
M. Miller, M. Hogan, J.
Wegner, and C.
Kelly. Orthopedics
18(10): 971-981, 1995.
Key Findings:
76 percent had good or excellent
results
Patients with either radicular or
referred leg pain (over half of all patients) responded
just as well as patients with isolated low back pain
Prior to evaluation at PNBC, patients
had seen on average three physicians and had failed
six different treatment options, including chiropractic,
epidural injections, facet injections, ultrasound,
traction, medication, and electrical stimulation.
Results were independent of diagnosis.
Spinal fitness was crucial, regardless of underlying
condition.
Patients completing the PNBC program
had dramatically less (67 percent) medical reutilization
in the year after discharge than comparable control
group patients treated elsewhere with passive modalities.
