OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of function-centered compared with pain-centered inpatient rehabilitation in patients whose absence from work is due to chronic nonspecific low back pain (LBP). DESIGN: Single-blinded randomized controlled trial with follow-up assessments immediately after treatment and at 3 months. SETTING: Center for work rehabilitation in Switzerland. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with more than 6 weeks of work absence due to chronic nonspecific LBP (N = 174; 137 men, 37 women; mean age +/- standard deviation 42 +/- 8 y; mean sick leave before study 6.5 mo). INTERVENTIONS: Function-centered treatment (FCT) (4 h/d, 6 d/wk, for 3 wk) consisted of work simulation, strength, endurance, and cardiovascular training. Pain-centered treatment (PCT) (2.5 h/d, 6 d/wk, for 3 wk) used a mini back school, individually selected passive and active mobilization, stretching, and low-intensity strength training. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of days at work in 3 months after treatment, self-efficacy, lifting capacity, pain, mobility, strength, and global perceived effect. Effect sizes (ESs) (Cohen d) were defined as small (ES range 0.2 to 0.5), moderate (ES range 0.5 to 0.8), and large (ES > 0.8). RESULTS: Groups were comparable at baseline. Moderate ESs for the FCT group versus PCT group were found for days at work (25.9 d versus 15.8d, ES 0.36, p = 0.029), self-efficacy (5.9 points versus -7.4 points, ES 0.55, p = 0.003), and lifting capacity (2.3 kg versus 0.2 kg, ES 0.54, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Function-centered rehabilitation increases the number of work days, self-efficacy, and lifting capacity in patients with nonacute nonspecific LBP.

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