Predicting Low Back Functional Performance Recovery

Abstract

This was a prospective study where patients were enrolled within the first month of their low back pain symptoms and evaluated for three months. Thirty-two patients with low back pain symptoms were recruited for the study. Initial conditions included symptoms, psychological measures, physical and psychosocial workplace measures, and functional performance measures. The outcome measure of functional performance probability was measured every two weeks for three months. A regression model was constructed using the initial conditions to predict functional performance probability of recovery. The r² value of the regression model was 0.87. Two functional performance patterns of recovery were found including a steady improvement and a large jump improvement. A discriminant function model identified the pattern of recovery in 91% of cases given initial conditions.