Evaluation of the Functional Capacity of Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain in an Outpatient Clinic in Manaus, Brazil

Aim: To relate the degree of low back pain with the functionality of patients attended at a spine outpatient clinic, and to determine the main complaints according to age and gender.

Materials and Methods: Prospective observational data collection was performed. At first, low back pain patients were assessed using the Mini-Mental, a cognitive measure, followed by the Oswestry Questionnaire, according to inclusion criteria, to determine the individual’s functional capacity.

Results: The sample consisted of 110 volunteers, with a predominance of the female gender (59%) and an average age of ± 47,8 years. It was found that 80% of patients have a moderate or greater functional disability and that only 11,8% of patients can tolerate pain without a need for analgesics.

Conclusion: The disability degree of most patients contrasts with other cross-sectional studies and reveals the limiting and progressive nature of the disease. Although progressively related to age, low back pain is highly representative in middle age (40 and 49 years), probably associated with work activities in this age group.

Keywords: Chronic pain; Low Back Pain; Quality of life; Surveys and Questionnaires.