Recovery indicators from the perspective of patients with chronic low back pain: a cross-sectional survey.

Aims: In low back pain (LBP) research, recovery is commonly used as an outcome measure. However, there is no method used to measure recovery or acceptable definition for recovery. This research aims to investigate patients' perceptions of recovery from LBP.

Materials & methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in which 350 patients with chronic LBP participated. Demographic and clinical information was collected by a comprehensive and inclusive questionnaire. A checklist of improvement indicators was given to the patients and completed by them. It was aimed to identify the most important criteria for recovery in patients with chronic LBP.

Results: The results showed that pain reduction alone is not a reliable indicator of recovery. The patients' view about the recovery from chronic LBP includes a wide range of factors in different areas of symptomatic improvement, fear of recurrence injury, functional disability, fatigue and reduced energy level. Also, a significant correlation was observed between recovery indicators and pain duration, body mass index, and pain intensity in patients with chronic LBP.

Conclusions: The framework of recovery for patients with chronic LBP is complicated and is a highly individual structure. It is determined by the impact of symptoms on activities of daily living factors.