[Results of Rehabilitation in Chronic Non-Specific Back Pain in Germany - Meta-Analyses of Change Scores of Pain Intensity and Functional Capacity].

OBJECTIVE

How do pain intensity and functional capacity improve after rehabilitating chronic non-specific back pain? Are the changes of practical relevance for quality of life and social participation? Are they stronger than placebo effects?

METHODS

Meta-analyses of short-, medium- and long-term outcomes from rehabilitation studies with standardized mean differences and MID-units were performed, as well as meta-analyses of outcomes of sham therapies. In addition, non-standardized effect measures and the amount of reliable change were determined.

RESULTS

for pain intensity short-term effects were moderate, long-term effects were small, for functional capacity short-term effects were small, and no effects occurred in the long term. The effects were at no time of practical relevance. Similar results could be achieved with sham treatments.

CONCLUSION

As far as pain intensity and functional capacity are concerned, the typical rehabilitee does not experience any significant improvements; a smaller proportion achieve results in the range of placebo effects.