Return to work with chronic low back pain: Using an evidence-based approach along with the occupational therapy framework

Abstract

This paper will attempt to apply the occupational therapy framework [1] along with an evidence-based approach and an occupation-based intervention with a population of workers with chronic low back pain (CLBP) to help them return to work and maintain their work status. This paper will focus primarily on those clients with CLBP who still have a link to their employment but who do not perceive themselves as being capable to go back to their job despite conflicting opinions from other stakeholders (primary health care professionals, employer or insurer). They are being evaluated in occupational therapy shortly before return to work and followed until their optimal functional capacities are reached. This means that either all functional goals related to the actual physical demands of their job have been reached or that further treatment does not result in functional improvement.