Functional results of physical and rehabilitative management of patients treated for low back pain at the Teaching Hospital of Brazzaville, Congo

Abstract

Objective: To report the functional results of physical and rehabilitative management of low back pain for low back pain in Brazzaville  University Teaching Hospital.

Patients and methods: Descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Brazzaville University Teaching Hospital. Patients followed between 1st May and 31st October  2022 (7 months) for low back pain were included to the study. Each patient was assessed at baseline and at 10, 20 and 30 days. The care  protocol consisted of 15 sessions, 3 sessions per week, combining sedative physiotherapy, muscle strengthening and endurance training.  The study variables were epidemiological, clinical and functional.

Results: During the study period, 215 patients were seen, 82 for  common low back pain, representing a hospital frequency of 38%. The mean age was 57±14 years (extremes 25 and 93 years). Women  predominated, (sex ratio: 0.43). The evolution was chronic in 93.9% of cases, with an average of 5±5.2 years (extremes: 1 month and 24  years). At the 30th day of the protocol, enabled 80.49% of patients to move from a pain intensity of more than 8/10 on the visual analogue scale to a pain intensity of less than 3 in 97.6% of patients. Similarly, functional capacity was restored in 97% of cases, with the Shirado  test increasing from 38±13 seconds (range 9 to 90 seconds) at inclusion to 49.5 seconds, the Sorensen test from 31 ±15 (range 1 to 75  seconds) to 41.1 seconds, and the Roland-Morris Disability score going from a severe score in 90.2% to a mild score in 52% of patients and  full functional restoration in 45%, with statistically significant.

Conclusion: Physical and rehabilitative management is an essential  modality in the treatment of common low back pain, effective on both the functional and pain components.