By this study we were able to show that orthopedic rehabilitation in a multimodal and multidisciplinary setting with a focus on activating and motivating therapy can have sustainable positive effects on pain, function and psychic well-being as well as on economic parameters. We interpret these persistent and superior effects in the treatment group (1) as a result of multiprofessional diagnosis and assignment which helps to subdivide the inhomogeneous group of patients with unspecific back pain into more homogeneous and thus more effective subgroups, (2) as a result of increased motivation by closed treatment groups, (3) as a result of intense and multilevel counselling of work related problems, (4) as a result of work hardening modules, and (5) as a result of direct and efficient treatment of psychic strains. The results also demonstrate the significance of inpatient rehabilitation, which will be efficient if differential treatment - adequate to the problems of the patient - is offered.

We attribute these persisting and superior effects in the treatment group to an efficient treatment of occupational and psychic problems as well as to more homogeneous treatment groups attained by a multidisciplinary diagnosis and team-based assignment. They also show the significance of in-patient-treatment which is effective, when -- based on multidisciplinary diagnosis -- differential treatment groups can be formed.