Industrial rehabilitation medicine. 4. Assessment of the outcome of treatment in industrial medicine, program development, documentation, and testimony.

This self-directed learning module highlights new advances in this topic area. It is part of the chapter on industrial rehabilitation medicine in the Self-Directed Medical Knowledge Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This article contains sections comparing the results of surgical versus nonsurgical treatment of low back pain and discussing the efficacy of ergonomic changes in the treatment of low back pain and cumulative trauma disorder, the effectiveness of chronic pain programs, directions for future research and program development in occupational medicine, and physiatric testimony in workers' compensation cases.