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PubMed2002

The effect of walking faster on people with acute low back pain.

Little is known about self-selected speed and fast walking in people with acute low back pain. This study aimed to investigate (1) the strategies that people with acute low back pain use to change from self-selected speed to fast walking and (2) the effect of a period of treadmill walking on level of back pain. Eight participants with acute low back pain and eight matched control participants were evaluated during self-selected speed and fast walking on a treadmill. The eight participants with back pain were retested 6 weeks later when pain had resolved. Measurements were taken of (1) three-dimensional angular movements of the pelvis and lumbar spine using a videoanalysis system, (2) the timing and distance parameters of walking, and (3) pain levels as measured by a visual analogue scale. We found that to walk faster, those with acute low back pain increased stride length and the frontal plane movements of pelvic list and lumbar lateral flexion (pelvis) to a greater extent than when symptoms had resolved. We also found that 10 min of treadmill walking at self-selected speed led to a reduction in the level of back pain and that there was a high degree of negative correlation between level of back pain and stride length. An additional 5 min of fast walking did not lead to any further changes in level of back pain. These findings support clinical recommendations that the moderate physical activity of walking may be beneficial in the management of people with acute low back pain. To walk faster, people with acute low back pain may utilise strategies that had been limited at self-selected speed, without any increase in pain.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A three-part study to investigate the incidence and potential etiologies of tadalafil-associated back pain or myalgia.

The potential mechanisms underlying back pain and/or myalgia experienced by men taking tadalafil were investigated. An integrated analysis of 10 placebo-controlled tadalafil clinical trials (N=1846) showed that the incidence of back pain and/or myalgia was 9.4% in patients receiving tadalafil 10 mg (N=394), 8.3% in patients receiving tadalafil 20 mg (N=883) and 3.7% in placebo-treated patients (N=569). One (0.3%) patient receiving tadalafil 10 mg, six (0.7%) patients receiving tadalafil 20 mg, and no patients receiving placebo discontinued treatment due to back pain and/or myalgia. In a prospective study in healthy volunteers, no substantial changes were observed in laboratory markers indicative of inflammation or muscle damage, and tadalafil did not affect renal plasma flow nor produce lumbar or gluteal myositis by positron emission tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging. Although the mechanism of back pain and/or myalgia remains unknown, these events appear to be self-limiting and a general effect of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Complementary therapies for back pain: is the evidence getting stronger?

Back pain is the most common reason for using complementary therapies. This analysis of the trial evidence is aimed at determining whether the evidence base for or against complementary therapies for back pain is getting stronger. Two series of systematic reviews conducted with the same methodology 5 years apart were compared. The results suggest that the weight of the evidence has increased between 2000 and 2005 for a number of interventions. The direction of the evidence, however, remained unchanged for all but one therapy. We conclude that the value of complementary therapies in the management of back pain remains encouraging but not fully convincing.

Back Pain↗
PubMed2006

[Psychobehavioural assessment for chronic low back pain].

INTRODUCTION: Psychobehavioural assessment may be a complementary approach to assess response to treatment for pain and disability in patients with low back pain. OBJECTIVES: To assess the correlation between psychobehavioural factors and pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain in France. METHODS: We asked 83 patients with chronic low back pain to complete questionnaires during a primary care consultation by a general practitioner. Pain was measured by a visual analog scale (VAS), disability by the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale and psychobehavioural factors by the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) and the Coping Strategy Questionnaire (CSQ). RESULTS: Pain was poorly correlated with anxiety (R = 0.36) and scores on the FABQ 1 (R = 0.46) and FABQ 2 (R = 0.30) and not correlated with depression (R = 0.22), duration of pain evolution (R = 0,10) and body mass index (R = 0.12). The duration of stopping work was poorly correlated with disability (R = 0.35) and FABQ 1 score (R = 0.43) and not correlated with pain (R = 0.11), anxiety (R = 0.11), depression (R = 0.26) and FABQ 2 score (R = 0.23). Disability was poorly correlated with scores on the FABQ 1 (R = 0.45) and FABQ 2 (R = 0.3), anxiety (R = 0.39) and depression (R = 0.47) and not correlated with pain (R = 0.25). Dramatization is the only way to cope with pain and was correlated with pain (R = 0.34), scores on the FABQ 1 (R = 0.47) and FABQ 2 (R = 0.43), disability (R = 0.38), anxiety (R = 0.44) and depression (R = 0.46). The use of prayer was poorly correlated with FABQ 1 score (R = 0.37) and anxiety (R = 0.30). Distraction was poorly correlated with scores on the FABQ 1 (R = 0.40) and FABQ 2 (R = 0.30). No strategy was correlated with duration of pain and stopping work. DISCUSSION-CONCLUSION: All the correlation assessments with psychobehaviour factors are weak. So evaluating each of these parameters will be interesting. Duration of pain was not correlated with increasing pain or change in behavioural strategy. Psychobehavioural factors are more invalidating than pain. More study is needed to assess psychobehavioural therapies in patients with low back pain.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Low back pain.

The cause and pathophysiology of low back pain are discussed in detail. Imaging studies of the lumbar spine-inclusive discography can help in detecting the originator of pain. The common treatment for low back pain is conservative. Only patients who fail this approach or who develop neurologic deficits benefit from lumbar surgery. A more aggressive treatment is chosen for patients with infections or tumors of the lumbar spine. Different treatment options are explained concerning the different diseases leading to low back pain.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1999

Origin of back pain during bedrest: A new hypothesis.

Back pain during bed rest has frequently been reported. Until recently, studies concentrated mainly on length changes of the spine. Functional aspects such as reduced movements of the back, although anecdotally reported, could neither be quantified nor were they taken into account as a potential cause of back pain. In the present study the geometry of the spinal columns of eight healthy men was continuously recorded over 24 h before, during, and after a seven-day 6 degree head-down tilt period (Series 1). The approach is based on the measurement of skin distances between four pairs of miniaturized ultrasound transmitters and receivers fixed on the back in parallel to the thoracic and lumbar spine. After a four-week break, the entire study was repeated with the same subjects (Series 2). The major findings are: 1. The length increase of the spine segments investigated was virtually identical in both series. 2. During the bedrest period significantly greater pain occurred in Series 1 as compared to Series 2. Pain was generally confined to the lumbar region about 10 cm lateral of the spinous processes. 3. Pain was most prominent when trunk motions were minimal, while movements over the maximal range of the spine transiently reduced the pain remarkably. 4. During bed rest, the amplitude of voluntary movements of the lumbar segment was reduced in particular during Series 1. It is concluded that back pain during bed rest is induced by reduced amplitudes of spine movements rather than by increases in the spine length. It is suggested that isometric muscle contractions of low intensity are a primary course of back pain. Regular, slow, large-amplitude movements of the spine are recommended as a countermeasure.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

An analysis of posture and back pain in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy.

While the incidence of back pain during pregnancy has been shown to be high, few studies have investigated postural changes that occur during pregnancy and their relationship to back pain. The purpose of this study was to determine if posture and back pain changed from the first to the third trimester of pregnancy and whether there was a relationship between the two. Twelve healthy women who were having uncomplicated pregnancies participated in the study. During the first and third trimesters, each subject had their standing posture and back pain assessed by a Metrecom Skeletal Analysis System and a 0- to 10-cm line pain scale, respectively. Repeated measures analysis of variance and Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated on or between back pain and nine posture variables and revealed significant increases in third trimester back pain and postures compared with first trimester back pain (p < .05) and postures for lumbar angle (p < .01), posterior head position (p < .01), right pelvic sagittal tilt (p < .01), and left pelvic sagittal tilt (p < .01). No significant relationships were found between magnitude of or change in posture and back pain. These results suggest that in the standing position the lumbar lordosis and sagittal pelvic tilt increased and head position become more posterior as women progressed from the first trimester to the last trimester of pregnancy. These postural changes, however, were not related to back pain. This suggests that many of the posture-correcting clinical exercise regimens given to pregnant women need to be investigated.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Trunk muscle strength in and effect of trunk muscle exercises for patients with chronic low back pain. The differences in patients with and without organic lumbar lesions.

STUDY DESIGN: Trunk muscle strength and the effect of trunk muscle exercises on chronic low back pain were investigated in patients with chronic low back pain. OBJECTIVE: Patients with chronic low back pain include those with organic lumbar lesions and those without such lesions. This study analyzed the differences in trunk muscle strength and effect of trunk muscle exercises between these two groups of patients. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Previous studies have reported lower trunk muscle strength in patients with chronic low back pain and higher efficacy of trunk muscle exercises for treating chronic low back pain. However, no analysis have yet been done of differences in these parameters between patients with chronic low back pain with and without organic lumbar lesions. METHODS: One-hundred-twenty-three patients with chronic low back pain and 126 healthy individuals without low back pain (control group) underwent trunk muscle strength evaluation. The patients were further divided into two groups-- those in group 1 had detectable organic lumbar lesions and those in group 2 had no detectable organic lesions. Seventy-two of these patients performed trunk muscle exercises and the correlation between improvement in low back pain and increase in trunk muscle strength was analyzed. RESULTS: Trunk flexor and extensor strengths were significantly lower in both groups. However, the flexor/extensor ratio of maximum torque was significantly higher in group 1 than in the control group, but was not significantly different between group 2 and the control group. Trunk muscle exercises reduced low back pain in both groups, but were more effective in group 2 than in group 1. The degree of correlation between increase in trunk muscle strength and improvement of low back pain also was higher in group 2 than in group 1. CONCLUSION: This difference in flexor/extensor ratio may have been due to reduced extensor strength resulting from neurogenic muscle weakness induced by the organic lumbar lesions in group 1. The exercise-associated increase in trunk muscle strength did not completely eliminate the low back pain induced by the organic lumbar lesions in group 1. However, increasing trunk muscle strength was extremely effective in patients of Group 2, in which decreased trunk muscle strength was a major factor in chronic low back pain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Persistence behavior of chronic low back pain patients in an acute pain situation.

The test behavior of 24 chronic low back pain patients was compared with the behavior of 24 healthy control Ss., matched for age and sex, in an experimental, acute pain situation (cold pressor-test). Chronic low back pain patients showed poorer persistence behavior and reported more pain. Thus, elements of typical chronic low back pain behavior were also present in an acute pain situation. These findings are discussed within the framework of stimulus-generalization theory. In addition, the effect of different coping strategies on pain tolerance was reconfirmed. The chronic low back pain group and the control group did not cope differently.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2006

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for the treatment of non-specific acute low back pain: a randomised controlled multicentre trial protocol [ISRCTN65814467].

BACKGROUND: Low back pain and its associated incapacitating effects constitute an important healthcare and socioeconomic problem, as well as being one of the main causes of disability among adults of working age. The prevalence of non-specific low back pain is very high among the general population, and 60-70% of adults are believed to have suffered this problem at some time. Nevertheless, few randomised clinical trials have been made of the efficacy and efficiency of acupuncture with respect to acute low back pain. The present study is intended to assess the efficacy of acupuncture for acute low back pain in terms of the improvement reported on the Roland Morris Questionnaire (RMQ) on low back pain incapacity, to estimate the specific and non-specific effects produced by the technique, and to carry out a cost-effectiveness analysis. METHODS/DESIGN: Randomised four-branch controlled multicentre prospective study made to compare semi-standardised real acupuncture, sham acupuncture (acupuncture at non-specific points), placebo acupuncture and conventional treatment. The patients are blinded to the real, sham and placebo acupuncture treatments. Patients in the sample present symptoms of non specific acute low back pain, with a case history of 2 weeks or less, and will be selected from working-age patients, whether in paid employment or not, referred by General Practitioners from Primary Healthcare Clinics to the four clinics participating in this study. In order to assess the primary and secondary result measures, the patients will be requested to fill in a questionnaire before the randomisation and again at 3, 12 and 48 weeks after starting the treatment. The primary result measure will be the clinical relevant improvement (CRI) at 3 weeks after randomisation. We define CRI as a reduction of 35% or more in the RMQ results. DISCUSSION: This study is intended to obtain further evidence on the effectiveness of acupuncture on acute low back pain and to isolate the specific and non-specific effects of the treatment.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed2005

Improvement in automatic postural coordination following alexander technique lessons in a person with low back pain.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The relationship between abnormal postural coordination and back pain is unclear. The Alexander Technique (AT) aims to improve postural coordination by using conscious processes to alter automatic postural coordination and ongoing muscular activity, and it has been reported to reduce low back pain. This case report describes the use of the AT with a client with low back pain and the observed changes in automatic postural responses and back pain. CASE DESCRIPTION: The client was a 49-year-old woman with a 25-year history of left-sided, idiopathic, lumbrosacral back pain. Automatic postural coordination was measured using a force plate during horizontal platform translations and one-legged standing. OUTCOMES: The client was tested monthly for 4 months before AT lessons and for 3 months after lessons. Before lessons, she consistently had laterally asymmetric automatic postural responses to translations. After AT lessons, the magnitude and asymmetry of her responses and balance improved and her low back pain decreased. DISCUSSION: Further research is warranted to study whether AT lessons improve low back pain-associated abnormalities in automatic postural coordination and whether improving automatic postural coordination helps to reduce low back pain.

Biofeedback, Psychology↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Medical versus surgical treatment for low back pain: evidence and clinical practice.

CONTEXT: Although low back pain is one of the most common health problems, it is still difficult to choose between surgical and medical treatment. OBJECTIVE: To examine the evidence of the efficacy of surgical and medical treatment of the two most common indications for spinal surgery for low back pain--lumbar disc herniation and spinal stenosis--and to assess geographic variation in the use of surgery for these conditions in the United States. METHODS: The MEDLINE database (1966-1999) was searched for all studies that compared surgical and medical treatments for low back pain. Data from the Health Care Financing Administration were used to examine geographic variation in spinal surgery rates for patients enrolled in Medicare (1996-1997). RESULTS: Eight observational studies and one randomized clinical trial were identified. In general, these studies suggest better short-term outcomes (e.g., functional status and employability) with surgery than with medical approaches, but they indicate that long-term results are similar with both types of treatment. Methodologic flaws in the observational studies, particularly selection bias, preclude definitive conclusions about relative efficacy. In 1996 and 1997, more than 98,000 Medicare enrollees had surgery for disc herniation or spinal stenosis. Among hospital referral regions, rates of surgery for disc herniation varied 8-fold, from 0.24 to 1.96 per 1000 Medicare enrollees, and rates of surgery for spinal stenosis varied 12-fold, from 0.29 to 3.34 per 1000 Medicare enrollees. CONCLUSIONS: The literature comparing the efficacy of surgical and medical treatment for low back pain is limited. Not surprisingly, the use of surgery for low back pain varies widely across the United States. To establish clinical consensus, we need better evidence about the efficacy of surgery.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed2001

Evaluating and managing acute low back pain in the primary care setting.

Acute low back pain is a common reason for patient calls or visits to a primary care clinician. Despite a large differential diagnosis, the precise etiology is rarely identified, although musculoligamentous processes are usually suspected. For most patients, back symptoms are nonspecific, meaning that there is no evidence for radicular symptoms or underlying systemic disease. Because episodes of acute, nonspecific low back pain are usually self-limited, many patients treat themselves without contacting their primary care clinician. When patients do call or schedule a visit, evaluation and management by primary care clinicians is appropriate. The history and physical examination usually provide clues to the rare but potentially serious causes of low back pain, as well as to identify patients at risk for prolonged recovery. Diagnostic testing, including plain x-rays, is often unnecessary during the initial evaluation. For patients with acute, nonspecific low back pain, the primary emphasis of treatment should be conservative care, time, reassurance, and education. Current recommendations focus on activity as tolerated (though not active exercise while pain is severe) and minimal if any bed rest. Referral for physical treatments is most appropriate for patients whose symptoms are not improving over 2 to 4 weeks. Specialty referral should be considered for patients with a progressive neurologic deficit, failure of conservative therapy, or an uncertain or serious diagnosis. The prognosis for most patients is good, although recurrence is common. Thus, educating patients about the natural history of acute low back pain and how to prevent future episodes can help ensure reasonable expectations.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Diagnostic utility of the McGill Pain Questionnaire and the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire for classification of low back pain syndromes.

Verbal pain description and assessment of functional limitations are key components in the clinical evaluation of patients with low back pain syndromes. Using the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) to quantify the pain experience and the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODQ) to quantify functional disability, a study was undertaken to determine the efficiency with which the MPQ and ODQ were capable of enhancing the differential diagnosis of three broad categories of low back syndromes. Three discriminative models were employed. The combined discriminant model (MPQ/ODQ) yielded the highest accuracy, 0.90, and it was the only model with acceptable predictive power. The greatest utility of the discriminant models was found to be ruling out nonspecific low back pain and ruling in radiculopathy, with and without neurological deficits. Subjective pain and disability appear to have the potential for successfully differentiating broad categories of low back pain. Further studies need to be performed to assess the discriminant power of the MPQ and ODQ for specific diagnostic entities.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2001

[Gender-specific aspects in chronic low back pain rehabilitation].

Gender-specific Aspects in Chronic Low Back Pain Rehabilitation. Little is known about gender differences in utilisation, outcomes and evaluation of orthopaedic rehabilitation for chronic low back pain. The purpose of this article is to review and analyse the literature on rehabilitation and recovery of men and women with chronic back pain. In Western societies, chronic back pain is one of the most common causes for utilising medical rehabilitation services. In general no significant gender differences in the prevalences of back pain are found, but men are more sick-listed and early retired due to musculoskeletal diseases. Also, more men than women participate in medical rehabilitation programmes. National and international studies pinpoint the fact that differences exist between women and men with regard to participating in an orthopaedic rehabilitation programme. Additionally there is some evidence that different physical and psychological therapy services have different effects on health status of women and men. Mixed results are available regarding gender differences concerning the outcomes of rehabilitation programmes. Rehabilitation activities after discharge from in-patient programmes and these being performed within the home setting are primary indicators of recovery. Gender differences have been identified regarding various types of activities, apparently because especially family roles interfere with activity. Further research must be conducted so as to increase the understanding of women's and men's experiences relative to orthopaedic diseases and orthopaedic rehabilitation services.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Pain and high sensitivity C reactive protein in patients with chronic low back pain and acute sciatic pain.

BACKGROUND: The severity of pain from musculoskeletal disorders might be associated with high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP), a sensitive marker of low grade systemic inflammation. OBJECTIVE: To study the association between pain as assessed by a visual analogue scale (VAS) and hsCRP in patients with chronic low back pain and acute sciatic pain. METHODS: Information on pain severity, determinants of hsCRP, and hsCRP values were obtained prospectively at up to 10 time points during six months in 72 consecutive patients (mean age 43.3 years; 59.7% female): 41 with chronic low back pain and 31 with acute sciatic pain. The association between severity of pain and raised (highest quartile) hsCRP values at any time point was estimated by multivariable logistic regression using generalised estimating equations to adjust odds ratios (OR) and their confidence intervals (CI) for intraindividual dependence of measurements. RESULTS: Mean intensity of pain (VAS 0-10) at baseline was 4.9 and 5.5 in patients with chronic low back and acute sciatic pain, respectively. Highest v lowest tertile of average intensity of pain during the last 24 hours was associated with increased hsCRP levels among patients with acute sciatic pain (adjusted OR = 3.4 (95% CI, 1.1 to 10), but not in patients with chronic low back pain (adjusted OR = 0.87 (0.25 to 3.0)). CONCLUSIONS: Mean intensity of pain during the previous 24 hours as assessed by VAS was independently associated with high levels of hsCRP in patients with acute sciatic pain but not in those with chronic low back pain.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

Back pain after epidural anesthesia with chloroprocaine.

BACKGROUND: Chloroprocaine has been associated with severe back pain after epidural anesthesia. Factors proposed to contribute to this problem are: 1) the preservative disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), 2) large volumes of chloroprocaine, 3) low pH of chloroprocaine, and 4) local infiltration with chloroprocaine. METHODS: Using a prospective, balanced, randomized study design, 100 patients aged 18-65 yr who were undergoing outpatient knee surgery during continuous epidural anesthesia received one of five local anesthetics (all containing epinephrine 1:200,000). Group I received a bolus of 30 ml 2% lidocaine, followed by 10 ml every 45 min. Group II received 15 ml of 3% chloroprocaine (containing EDTA), plus 5 ml every 45 min. Group III received 30 ml of 3% chloroprocaine plus 10 ml every 45 min. Group IV received 30 ml of 3% chloroprocaine (containing metabisulfite as the preservative but no EDTA) plus 10 ml every 45 min. Group V received 30 ml of 3% chloroprocaine with the pH adjusted to 7.3, plus 10 ml every 45 min. After the anesthesia dissipated and before any analgesic agents were given, the patients were asked to rank maximum knee and back pain on a visual analog scale (0-10) and to give a description of back pain. A telephone interview was conducted 24 h after surgery to determine if back pain returned. Back pain scoring was assessed using a verbal analog scale. RESULTS: After dissipation of anesthesia, the back pain reported by patients fell into two distinct categories. Type 1 pain was described commonly as superficial and localized to the site of needle insertion. There was no difference among groups in incidence of type 1 pain. Type 2 pain was described as deep, aching, burning, and poorly localized in the lumbar region (5% of the patients in group I, 10% in groups II and IV, 50% in group III, and 25% in group V). The incidence of type 2 pain was significantly greater in group III than in groups I, II, or IV. Group III also had a significantly greater mean visual analog scale pain score (types 1 and 2) than all other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Large doses (> or = 40 ml) of chloroprocaine containing EDTA resulted in a greater incidence of deep burning lumbar back pain. Using 25 ml or less of the same solution resulted in an incidence of both types 1 and 2 postepidural anesthesia back pain similar to that in the lidocaine control group.

Adolescent↗