Conclusions For most clinical tests in LBP there is not consistent evidence for an association with outcome .
Central ization and non-organic signs are exceptions from that .
Background There is a strong tradition of performing a clinical examination of low back pain ( LBP ) patients and this is generally recommended in guidelines .
However , establishing a pathoanatomic diagnosis does not seem possible in most LBP patients and clinical tests may potentially be more relevant as prognostic factors .
The aim of this review of the literature was to systematic ally assess the association between low-tech clinical tests commonly used in adult patients with acute , recurrent or chronic LBP and short- and long-term outcome .
Clinical effectiveness of behavioral signs for screening chronic low-back pain patients in a work-oriented physical rehabilitation program.
This prospect i ve study investigated the relationship between behavioral sign scores ( from Waddell ) and the return to work status of chronic low-back pain patients who completed a work-oriented physical rehabilitation program without formal facility-related psychologic or social services . Further , the authors monitored the effect of this program on changing these scores . The program consisted of physical reconditioning through resistive exercises , flexibility and aerobic training , posture and body mechanics education , and progressive work simulation tasks and activities of daily living .  One hundred eighty-three nonworking or partially disabled low-back pain patients with an average duration of 8.7 months ' disability were included in the study . The presence of each of eight behavioral signs was tested for on entry and again on completion of the program . Analysis showed a significant drop in behavioral sign scores for patients who successfully returned to work . There was no significant reduction in scores for patients who did not return to work . The results suggest these signs may predict the effectiveness of treating chronic low-back pain patients in a return-to-work physical rehabilitation program . Conversely , screening for behavioral signs may identify low-back pain patients who would benefit from intensive behavioral and psychiatric testing and intervention efforts
Conclusions For most clinical tests in LBP there is not consistent evidence for an association with outcome .
Central ization and non-organic signs are exceptions from that .
Background There is a strong tradition of performing a clinical examination of low back pain ( LBP ) patients and this is generally recommended in guidelines .
However , establishing a pathoanatomic diagnosis does not seem possible in most LBP patients and clinical tests may potentially be more relevant as prognostic factors .
The aim of this review of the literature was to systematic ally assess the association between low-tech clinical tests commonly used in adult patients with acute , recurrent or chronic LBP and short- and long-term outcome .