The long term outcome of the Back School in patients with chronic mechanical low back pain

Education is the most prominent among conservative treatment methods for chronic mechanical low back pain; the organized application of education has been conducted under the title "Back School". Our study was designed in order to demonstrate the long term outcomes of the Back School by evaluating the patients' application of what is taught in the education program to their daily life, the regularity of their exercises and the subsequent improvement in pain severity, disability and number of attacks. 133 patients with chronic mechanical low back pain were evaluated according to the criteria before, and at least one year after the Back School treatment with a mailed questionnaire. Statistical analysis revealed that exercises were generally not taken regularly during the long term follow up, but especially higher education graduates applied what they had learned at the Back School to their daily life. Although this application did not reduce the number of attacks, it significantly decreased pain severity and reduced the disability by enabling the patient to cope with the pain. It is emphasized at the conclusion of the study that the patients should be followed after their attendance in Back School and encouraged to follow what they have learned and continue with their exercises.