The research involved 506 workers who were on medical leave because of their lower back pain. The participants, mostly blue-collar workers, underwent routine evaluations by a medical adviser as part of Belgium’s national health and disability insurance program. Half received only the standard disability counseling, while the other half also received information and counseling for low-back pain. The advice given included avoiding bed rest and remaining active, proceeding with normal daily routines as much as possible.
The researchers found that patients who received counseling had a higher likelihood of returning to work. They concluded that patient counseling can decrease the number of people claiming disability and the number of sick days taken. This “rehabilitation-oriented approach” appears to double the chance of a patient returning to work within a year.
