Abstract

Disorders associated with low back pain (lbp) are the result of not only affliction of nerve roots, but also nocireceptive innervated structures of the ligaments and joint capsules. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of selected nerve root tests in people selected by the Social Insurance Board (SIB) and the National Health Fund (NHF) for spa treatment due to lbp, and their usefulness for diagnosis and prognosis.The study involved a group of 400 people (200 people recommended by SIB and 200 by the NHF). In questionnaires, beside the basic personal characteristics, the following were taken into consideration: disease duration, pain location and radiation, results of imaging tests, employment status and type of work performed. The questionnaires also carried results of some nerve roots tests carried out. Positive nerve root tests occurred more frequently in people recommended by the SIB for prevention of disability pension award, and their frequency increased with duration of illness and PIT taxable allowance period. SIB patients were recommended for treatment as a result of a disease that was at a more advanced stage than patients from NHF. Analysis of obtained data showed that nerve root tests, in both groups were present in only a quarter of the tested patients, hence this points to their limited diagnostic and prognostic value.

Key words:

Low Back Pain, nerve root tests, spa treatment, prevention of disability pension award