OBJECTIVE: To determine the long-term effect of multidisciplinary back training on the work participation of patients with non-specific chronic low back pain. BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain is influenced by multiple factors. Multidisciplinary back training is a potential intervention to reduce this pain and its consequences. To date, there is only evidence for the short-term effectiveness of this approach in terms of work participation; it is not yet clear what the long-term effects of such an intervention are. METHODS: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Electronic databases were searched and the references of various articles were screened for relevant publications. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. All included studies were evaluated for their methodological quality. RESULTS: Five of the studies had a low methodological quality. All high-quality studies found a positive effect on at least one of the four outcome measures used. On the basis of our criteria, multidisciplinary back training had a beneficial long-term effect on the outcomes 'work participation' and 'quality of life', but on the outcomes 'experienced pain' and 'functional status' The intensity of the intervention did not seem to influence its effectiveness. CONCLUSION: In the long-term, multidisciplinary back training has a positive effect on the work participation and quality of life of patients with non-specific chronic low back pain.

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