Physical conditioning programs for improving work outcomes in workers with back pain.

Background: Physical conditioning programs aim to improve work status for workers on sick leave. This is an update of a Cochrane Review (Work conditioning, work hardening and functional restoration for workers with back and neck pain) first published in 2003.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of physical conditioning programs in reducing time lost from work for workers with back pain.

Warm up: Efficacy of a program designed for downhill skiing.

A warm-up program designed for downhill skiers and conducted in alpine conditions was tested for its effectiveness in "warming up" the body prior to participation in 90 minutes of downhill skiing. Eight subjects were randomly allocated and participated in both the warm-up and control conditions. Measurements were taken of rectal temperature, skin temperature, heart rate and flexibility prior to warm-up, immediately post-warm-up/immediately pre-skiing, and at 15min intervals during 90 minutes of skiing.