The Effectiveness of Back School

Four of five people suffer from low-back pain sometime during their lifetime. The nuaber of people with disabling back pain in the United States has increased by 168\ from 1971 to 1981. The purpose of this independent study report is to determine whether back school is as effective means of educating patients about proper back care; and whether back school helps prevent further back injury. Back school clients at the Broadway Health Centre from July 15. 1992 to October 1. 1992 were invited to participate in this study. In addition. patients with back injuries referred to the Broadway Health Centre who did not participate in back school were also invited to participate. Eight people participated in the study. Five back school participants and three non-back school participants completed questionnaires. Four to eight weeks after completing back school or physical therapy. the participants were contacted by phone to fill out a follow-up questionnaire. The results showed that back school participants improved their body mechanics. Four of the back school participants returned to work. Two of four back school participants reinjured themselves. The non-back school participants showed no change in their body mechanics. One of two non-back school participants returned to work. The non-back school participants had no reinjuries