Therapeutic and economic effects of multimodal back exercise: A controlled multicentre study

Authors

  • Gerhard Müller
  • Manuela Pfinder
  • Michael Clement
  • Andreas Kaiserauer
  • Guido Deis
  • Timm Waber
  • Stefanie Rieger
  • Dana Schwarz
  • Monika Heinzel-Gutenbrunner
  • Michael Straif
  • Klaus Bös
  • Thomas Kohlmann

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2497

Keywords:

cost-benefit analysis, back pain, exercise.

Abstract

To compare the cost-effectiveness of a multimodal back exercise programme for non-specific back pain with that of standard treatment. Medical costs were measured in euros (EUR) and effectiveness was measured using Graded Chronic Pain Status (GCPS). A controlled multicentre study (39 sites) with a 6-month intervention phase and follow-up at 6, 12 and 18 months. The study included 1,829 participants in an intervention group and 495 individuals in a control group. The multimodal back exercise programme comprises 36 exercise sessions for optimizing the spine stabilizing muscles and everyday motor func-tions. The patients were given a home training programme at the end of the intervention programme. The back exercise programme resulted in a significant reduction, of 0.4, in back pain grade on the GCPS after 2 years, compared with standard treat-ment, and reduced medical costs by 763 EUR. The exercise programme was therapeutically effective for GCPS back pain grades 1–4 and produced cost savings in the case of grade 4 GCPS. The multimodal back exercise programme was therapeutically effective for back pain (grades 1–2) and pain-related functional impairment (grades 3–4). It resulted in reduced costs for chronic back pain causing high pain-induced functional impairment (grade 4). The therapeutic and economic effects of the programme increase with the grade of back pain.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2018-11-01

How to Cite

Müller, G., Pfinder, M., Clement, M., Kaiserauer, A., Deis, G., Waber, T., Rieger, S., Schwarz, D., Heinzel-Gutenbrunner, M., Straif, M., Bös, K., & Kohlmann, T. (2018). Therapeutic and economic effects of multimodal back exercise: A controlled multicentre study. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 51(1), 61–70. https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2497

Issue

Section

Original Report