OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine the benefits of a functional retraining programme (with or without daily isokinetic reinforcement of the trunk muscles) in patients with lower-back pain. METHOD: Two groups of 30 patients took part in the study. The control group (CG) underwent a four-week reconditioning program in a day hospital, whereas a second interventional group (IG) additionally performed daily isokinetic training of the trunk muscles. Three evaluations were carried out: before hospitalization (T1), immediately after hospitalization (T2) and three months postrehabilitation (T3). RESULTS: We observed an improvement in each parameter after rehabilitation, regardless of the group. A decrease in the DALLAS scores revealed a reduced impact of lower-back pain on the patients' lives. Pain experienced fell by 24%, analgesic treatment was significantly decreased (CG -53%; IG -56%), muscle endurance was improved (quadriceps +30%, abdominal muscles +20%, paraspinal muscles +23%, quadratus lumborum +33%) and the patients were more supple, as revealed by a decrease in the finger-to-ground distance (at T1 CG 12.9 +/- 6.1 cm; IG 13.6 +/- 5.5 cm at T1 CG 2.2 +/- 5.4 cm; IG 2.8 +/- 5.1 cm at T2). The sole difference for CG and IG at T2 resulted from an improvement in the performance of the trunk extensor muscles, which was significantly greater in the IG (CG +14%; IG +20%). Three months after rehabilitation, the benefits were still present for the two groups and, indeed, were even greater for certain parameters. CONCLUSION: Regardless of the protocol, the patients improved in both physical and psychological terms and these improvements were maintained over a short period, at least. Our results confirmed that one functional recovery programme is not superior to another for patients with lower-back pain.

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