Physical therapy for patients with back pain.

The aim of this study was to describe the physical therapy diagnosis and treatment in patients with back pain. More specifically, the relationship between the duration of the complaint and the diagnosis and treatment was analysed. Data were used from a representative survey of physical therapeutic practice in the Netherlands. The patients were divided into three groups on the basis of duration of the complaints. It was found that the physical therapy diagnosis and treatment vary with the duration of back pain. Patients with a relativily brief history of pain suffer more frequently from impairments in muscle tone, restriction in joint range of motion and sciatic pain; they also suffer more frequently from disabilities in their modalities and manual therapy are more often used. Patients with a relatively long duration of back pain suffer more frequently from reduced muscle strength, and improvement of muscle strength is more frequently indicated as treatment goal. Exercise therapy and massage are more often used in the treatment of patients. (aut. ref.)