Assessment and Comparison of the Efficacy of Rehabilitation Conducted at a Sanatorium and in an Outpatient Facility in Patients with Low Back Pain. Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain is nowadays believed to be one of the most serious and common health problems and is even often classified as a disease of civilisation. Prevention and treatment of such conditions is very important, particularly taking into consideration the fact that they are increasingly common in young people. Low back pain is effectively prevented and treated with rehabilitation. The aim of this paper was to assess and compare rehabilitation procedures performed in patients with low back pain in the sanatorium setting and on an outpatient basis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in a group of 80 patients. Half of these patients were treated as outpatients and the other half underwent treatment at a sanatorium. Outcomes in all patients were assessed with physical tests and a survey.

RESULTS: 1. The study showed that sanatorium-based rehabilitation is more beneficial with respect to decreasing pain and is associated with a decrease in the number of patients taking analgesics and a higher percentage of patients taking up physical activity after the treatment. 2. Supplementing traditional rehabilitation with natural methods used at a sanatorium leads to better treatment outcomes.