Physical and Mental Functioning in Disability Pensioners with Back Pain

Abstract

Objective: To describe physical and mental functioning in a group of back pain disability pensioners. Also, we wanted to explore to what extent a positive expectancy for returning to work was present in this group, as such expectancy tends to be a strong predictor for return to work in patients on sick leave due to back pain.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was used. A test battery consisting of several questionnaires and physical performance tests were used to assess physical and mental functioning.

Results: Of 431 eligible disability pensioners, 21 percent [N = 89; mean age: 49 years, 65 percent women] volunteered for the study. Considerable physical limitation, emotional distress, pain, and reduced health in general were demonstrated in this group. Only 18 percent [N = 15] of the participants believed that they would eventually return to work. Lack of belief in returning to work was related to very poor physical and work-related function, and also to high levels of fear avoidance for physical activities.

Conclusions: Expectancy for returning to work and related factors should probably be taken into consideration when planning re-employment efforts for this group. Due to low participation rate, the results may not be characteristic of disability pensioners with back pain in general.

KEYWORDS:

• Disability pension
• low back pain
• functioning
• disability
• return to work
• physical performance