Physical therapy for chronic low back pain: correlations between spinal mobility and treatment outcome.

Chronic low back pain in 151 men aged 54 to 63 years was treated for three weeks in a rehabilitation centre or as outpatients at a health centre. Spinal mobility of forward and lateral flexion, and rotation, were measured before and two months after treatment. The effects of the treatment on low back pain were recorded from questionnaires answered before and 2, 6 and 12 months after treatment. A favourable outcome correlated significantly with an increase of spinal lateral flexion (p less than 0.01) and rotation (p less than 0.05). The hypothetical utility of mobilizing lateral flexion and rotation exercises as part of the rehabilitation of patients with chronic low back pain is discussed.