[Nonspecific chronic low back pain and function: a clinical study in a physical medicine and rehabilitation consultation].

OBJECTIVES Nonspecific chronic low back pain (nCLBP) is a common pathology limiting function at different ages. Rehabilitation is not consensual and the efficiency is variable. The objective of this study is to describe pain severity and disability in activities of daily life (ADL) at the end of conventional physical therapy treatment (CPTT). DESIGN This is a non-randomized cross-sectional study with 32 consecutive patients, carried out in the central region of Portugal during a 6-month period. METHODS We used the visual analogical scale (VAS) for pain and the Oswestry disability index (ODI). Patients self-administered analgesics and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on a daily basis, and filled in a form for their characteristics (gender, age and pain duration) in the first week after the CPTT. RESULTS The VAS average value was 48.7 (18.77) and the total ODI value was 19.6, with a "disability score" of 39%. ODI sub-items (intensity of pain 2.88 +- 1.01, lifting 2.78 +- 1.07, social life 2.19 +-1.12, sitting 2.16 +- 1.00, standing 2.09 +- 1.30) were the most affected. Patients took analgesics for 10.6 (12.86) and NSAIDs for 5.2 days (8.99) in a month. CONCLUSION There was a high perception of pain and disability after CPTT, which suggests the need to modify the therapeutic approach to achieve more effective pain relief and function.