Classification of Low Back Pain according to Treatment Based Classification Algorithm: A Cross-Sectional Study at Tertiary Center of Nepal

Abstract

Background: Low Back Pain (LBP) is the commonest musculoskeletal disorder
in Nepal. Treatment Based Classification (TBC) categorizes individual with LBP
in four different categories. They are manipulation, stabilization, specific and
traction subgroup and are evident to have better outcome. The aim of our study
is to classify LBP patient according to TBC and evaluate whether LBP patient fall in
one particular subgroup or a combination of subgroup.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Dhulikhel hospital,
Physiotherapy department using convenience sampling. The study was conducted
in 65 (Female/35) patients with acute and sub-acute LBP. Patient information
on LBP duration, pain diagram, Numerical Pain Rating Scale, and Fear Avoidance
Belief Questionnaire were obtained. After standardized assessment, patients
were categorized according to TBC.
Results: Approximately half of LBP patients fell into one subgroup i.e., 47.7%,
27.7% into combination of two or three subgroups and 20% did not meet any
criteria for TBC. Similarly, patients falling in specific, stabilization, manipulation
and traction sub-groups were 44.61%, 43.07%, 16.92% and 12.30% respectively.
Our study concluded that almost half of the patients categorized into one
subgroup. Categorization according to TBC is feasible and can be performed to
provide an optimal treatment for patients visiting Dhulikhel Hospital.