Back school for patients with vertebral fractures.

Back school is behavior training for the prevention and treatment of back problems arising from faulty body posture and muscular dysfunction. This paper describes the conception and evaluation of a back school program for patients with vertebral fractures. The curriculum includes the provision of detailed information as well as physiotherapy, training in the right way to perform activities of everyday life, counseling, relaxation training, and self-monitoring. From October 1987 to June 1990 214 patients with vertebral fractures completed the back school program. The effectiveness of the program was measured by a knowledge test and a behavior test. The results suggest that this back school is an effective addition to conventional concept using physiotherapy exclusively.