Work conditions increase the prevalence of chronically low back pain (CLBP) in labourers (LW) as well as in sedentary workers (SW). Previous studies showed that functional restoration program (FRP) improved the condition of patients with CLBP. Here we evaluated the differential value of FRP in LW and SW groups, with respect to spinal and abdominal muscle functions, functional capacity and autonomy, and professional reintegration.

Between 2012 and 2015, 89 patients (aged 18 to 65) with CLBP, included in the FRP, completed the program. There were 45 LW and 44 SW. Judgment criteria were physical (Sorensen test, for spinal muscles, and Shirado-Ito test, for abdominal muscles), functional (Quebec score), and socio-professional (number of sick leave days in 6 months), before and after completing the FRP.

Both groups, LW and SW, improved their functional capacities (Quebec score: 29.194 after, vs. 40.622 before the program, P=0.0022, in LW; 26. 33% after the FRP, vs. 37.6% before the program, P=0.0008, in SW), and the number of sick leave days dramatically decreased after the FRP (19.23 days after, vs. 58.08 days before, P=0.0121, in LW; mean 0.41 days after vs. 26.53 days before, P=0.0018, in SW). Sorensen test improved in both groups (119.18 after vs. 76.65 before, P=0.0192, in LW; 119.10 after FRP vs. 65.08 before, P=0.0011, in SW). Shirado-Ito Test also improved: 340.13 vs. 91.81, in LW and 128.73 vs. 65.08, P=0.0338, in SW.

FRP improved the condition of patients with CLBP in all analysed criteria, both in LW and in SW. However the repartition of improvement between LW and SW was different, particularly in physical criteria (LW improved more their abdominal muscles, and SW improved more their spinal muscles). These results suggest that isokinetic studies are needed to specifically adapt the FRP to the work conditions…