Low Back Pain in Changi General Hospital: An Observational Study

Aims: The aim is to study the profile of local low back pain (LBP) patients and their physiotherapy management in an outpatient physiotherapy clinic. Methods: A retrospective study was done with records of LBP patients attending the Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Clinic at Changi General Hospital from January to June 2009. Age, LBP onset, occupation, time off work, investigation results, and functional outcomes were obtained. Results: Ninety-four records were screened. Majority of patients (59.6%) were aged between 30–50 years old. Sixty-six percent were engaged in occupations that involved sustained postures. Majority of patients (91.5%) had minor/no trauma in association to the onset of their symptoms. Although majority of patients (64.9%) did not take any time off work to manage their LBP, a total of 640 days were lost off work due to LBP. Majority of patients (93.6%) underwent radiological investigations. There was no significant correlation between radiating symptoms and presence of nerve root compression on MRI (p = 0.144). In addition, pathology did not significantly impact on rehabilitative outcome in our sample (p = 0.397, p = 0.602). A review of clinical practice with regards to ordering radiological investigations may be required to minimise radiation exposure and increase cost effectiveness. Patients improved from a mean of 4.00 to 9.10 on the Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) within an average of 3.65 sessions. There was a significant relationship between earlier onset of therapy and better functional improvement on the PSFS (r= −0.299, p = 0.026). Starting a physiotherapy service in our accident and emergency department may be a good consideration to implement in our hospital. Conclusions: Sustained postures may contribute to LBP in local patients. Disability and time lost off work as result of LBP appears to be a significant problem locally. Radiology has no correlation with symptoms, nor rehabilitative outcomes. Pathology may have only limited value in determining treatment or prognosis in nontraumatic LBP. A tailored physiotherapy approach towards education, manual therapy and exercises may be effective in improving functional capabilities in local LBP patients. Earlier onset of physiotherapy is associated with better functional recovery in LBP patients