Comprehensive Rehabilitation Programs for Low Back Pain

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Treatment Overview

Comprehensive rehabilitation (rehab) programs offer treatment for low back pain. They may use physical therapy, pain management with medicine and coping skills, and other medical treatments.

These programs teach you how to care for your back and how to prevent reinjury. If you have long-term pain, they teach you how to manage your pain—and situations that make your pain worse—on a daily basis. Good programs include doctors, physical therapists, behavioral counselors, and social workers.

You are likely to benefit from one of these programs if you:

  • Have pain and decreased function that have not improved after 2 to 4 months of treatment.
  • Have long-term (chronic) low back pain. These programs are thought to be an effective approach to treating chronic low back pain.footnote 1
  • Have had back surgery.
  • Have had one or more unsuccessful back surgeries and have had pain and decreased function for several years.

Related Information

References

Citations

  1. Chou R (2010). Low back pain (chronic), search date April 2009. Online version of BMJ Clinical Evidence: http://www.clinicalevidence.com.

Credits

Current as of: July 17, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

The Health Encyclopedia contains general health information. Not all treatments or services described are covered benefits for Kaiser Permanente members or offered as services by Kaiser Permanente. For a list of covered benefits, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage or Summary Plan Description. For recommended treatments, please consult with your health care provider.