Stage Of Low Back Pain Research Articles

Recent clinical practice guidelines for the management of low back pain: a global comparison.

Low back pain (LBP) is a significant health problem worldwide, with a lifetime prevalence of 84% in the general adult population. To rationalise the management of LBP, clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have been issued in various countries around the world. This study aims to identify and compare the recommendations of recent CPGs for the management of LBP across the world. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDro, and major guideline databases were searched from 2017 to 2022 to identify CPGs. CPGs focusing on information regarding the management and/or treatment of non-specific LBP were considered eligible. The quality of included guidelines was evaluated using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument. Our analysis identified a total of 22 CPGs that met the inclusion criteria, and were of middle and high methodological quality as assessed by the AGREE II tool. The guidelines exhibited heterogeneity in their recommendations, particularly in the approach to different stages of LBP. For acute LBP, the guidelines recommended the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), therapeutic exercise, staying active, and spinal manipulation. For subacute LBP, the guidelines recommended the use of NSAIDs, therapeutic exercise, staying active, and spinal manipulation. For chronic LBP, the guidelines recommended therapeutic exercise, the use of NSAIDs, spinal manipulation, and acupuncture. Current CPGs provide recommendations for almost all major aspects of the management of LBP, but there is marked heterogeneity between them. Some recommendations lack clarity and overlap with other treatments within the guidelines.

Investigation for Factors Affecting Body Perception Disturbance in Patients with Low Back Pain by Mechanism-Based Classification of Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Central sensitization is a pathophysiological cause of chronic low back pain and is linked with psychosocial factors. The association between central sensitization (CS) and body perception disturbance is currently unclear, and no prior studies have investigated this relationship in patients with acute or subacute low back pain. The objective of this study was to investigate potential factors that influence body perception disturbance using a mechanistic classification of low back pain. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the time of initial physical therapy in patients with low back pain. During the study period, 169 patients were recruited. Pain intensity, disease duration, disability, CS, and body perception disturbance were evaluated. Patients were divided into three groups according to the pathology of low back pain, and multivariate analysis was used to examine factors affecting body perception disturbance. The dependent variable was Fremantle Back Awareness Questionnaire (FreBAQ); the independent variables were age, gender, BMI, VAS, disease duration, RDQ, and CS Inventory-9 (CSI-9). A total of 117 patients were included in our analysis. According to the mechanistic classification of pain, 66 (56.4%), 36 (30.8%), and 15 (12.8%) patients were categorized as having nociceptive pain (NP), peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP), and CS pain (CSP), respectively. Patients with PNP or CSP were significantly older than those with NP (p < 0.01). FreBAQ and RDQ scores were significantly higher in patients with CSP than those with NP (p < 0.05). The results of multiple regression analyses indicated that CSI-9 scores were significantly associated with FreBAQ (p < 0.01). Patients with CS syndrome and low back pain tend to have higher CSI-9 scores and be older. Body perception disturbance is influenced by CS or CS syndrome, regardless of the stage of low back pain, suggesting that patients with chronic low back pain tend to have low body image.

Differential Sensitization of Muscle versus Fascia in Individuals with Low Back Pain.

Muscles and the deep fascia surrounding them have been suggested to play an important role in various musculoskeletal pain conditions including low back pain. Both have been shown to host rich nociceptive innervation and to undergo changes in individuals with chronic pain. However, evidence for the respective contribution of muscle and fascia sensitization in humans with myofascial pain syndrome is lacking. Here, we studied the sensitization of muscle and fascia in individuals with myofascial low back pain. Twenty individuals with acute (5) and chronic (15) myofascial low back pain of the quadratus lumborum muscle and a matched control group of twenty healthy individuals were recruited and clinically evaluated. All participants underwent ultrasound-guided needling of their subcutaneous tissue, deep fascia and quadratus lumborum muscle. Reported pain intensity and episodes of muscle twitching were recorded and analyzed. Among pain patients, both muscles and deep fascia demonstrated pain hypersensitivity, but muscles were significantly more sensitized than the deep fascia. No difference between acute- or chronic-pain patients was observed. Results of this study suggest that while both deep fascia and muscle show pain sensitization in both early and chronic stages of low back pain, muscles are more sensitized than fascia.

Presence of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha in Urine Samples of Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain Undergoing Chiropractic Care: Preliminary Findings From a Prospective Cohort Study.

Background and aimsLow back pain is the leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide. Chiropractors employ different interventions to treat low back pain, including spinal manipulative therapy, although the mechanisms through which chiropractic care improves low back pain are still unclear. Clinical research and animal models suggest that spinal manipulation might modulate plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines, which have been involved in different stages of low back pain. More specifically, serum levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) have been found to be elevated in patients with chronic low back pain. We aimed to investigate whether urine from chronic low back pain patients could be an appropriate medium to measure concentrations of TNF-α and to examine possible changes in its levels associated to chiropractic care.MethodsUrine samples were collected from 24 patients with chronic low back pain and TNF-α levels were analyzed by ELISA before and after 4–6 weeks of care compared to a reference value obtained from 5 healthy control subjects, by means of a Welch’s t-test. Simultaneously, pain intensity and disability were also evaluated before and after care. Paired t-tests were used to compare mean pre and post urinary concentrations of TNF-α and clinical outcomes.ResultsSignificantly higher baseline levels of urinary TNF-α were observed in chronic low back pain patients when compared to our reference value (p < 0.001), which were significantly lower after the period of chiropractic treatment (p = 0.03). Moreover, these changes were accompanied by a significant reduction in pain and disability (both p < 0.001). However, levels of urinary TNF-α were not correlated with pain intensity nor disability.ConclusionThese results suggest that urine could be a good milieu to assess TNF-α changes, with potential clinical implications for the management of chronic low back pain.

Low Somatosensory Cortex Excitability in the Acute Stage of Low Back Pain Causes Chronic Pain

Determining the mechanistic causes of complex biopsychosocial health conditions such as low back pain (LBP) is challenging, and research is scarce. Cross-sectional studies demonstrate altered excitability and organization of the somatosensory and motor cortex in people with acute and chronic LBP, however, no study has explored these mechanisms longitudinally or attempted to draw causal inferences. Using sensory evoked potential area measurements and transcranial magnetic stimulation derived map volume we analyzed somatosensory and motor cortex excitability in 120 adults experiencing acute LBP. Following multivariable regression modelling with adjustment for confounding, we identified lower primary (OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.22–3.57) and secondary (OR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.37–4.76) somatosensory cortex excitability significantly increased the odds of developing chronic pain at 6-month follow-up. Corticomotor excitability in the acute stage of LBP was associated with higher pain intensity at 6-month follow-up (B = -0.15, 95% CI: -0.28 to -0.02) but this association did not remain after confounder adjustment. These data provide evidence that low somatosensory cortex excitability in the acute stage of LBP is a cause of chronic pain. PerspectiveThis prospective longitudinal cohort study design identified low sensorimotor cortex excitability during the acute stage of LBP in people who developed chronic pain. Interventions that target this proposed mechanism may be relevant to the prevention of chronic pain.

Balance Control in Patients with Subacute Non-Specific Low Back Pain, with and without Lumbar Instability: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BackgroundPatients with low back pain (LBP) have poorly coordinated neuromuscular control, which may alter the normal postural stability of the spine. Altered movement control may occur at any stage of LBP.Purpose(1) To identify differences in balance control and proprioceptive sense between subacute non-specific LBP (NSLBP) patients with and without lumbar instability (LI) and healthy subjects and (2) to investigate the correlation between factors of motor control deficits and balance.Patients and MethodsThirty-six participants matched by gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) were allocated into three groups of 12: subacute NSLBP patients with LI, subacute NSLBP patients without LI, and healthy subjects. Balance, proprioceptive sense, pain, functional disability, and fear of movement were evaluated.ResultsSubacute NSLBP patients with LI exhibited greater impairments in balance control, proprioceptive sense, and functional ability than patients without LI (p<0.05). Subacute NSLBP patients showed more impairments in balance control, proprioceptive sense, and fear of movement than healthy subjects (p<0.001), with the following effect sizes (partial η2) for static balance on stable and unstable surface: 0.597 and 0.560, anticipatory balance: 0.417, and dynamic balance: 0.536; proprioceptive sense: 0.676; and fear of movement: 0.379. Significant fair correlations were found between (1) static balance and proprioceptive sense, functional disability, and fear of movement; (2) functional reach test (FRT) and pain; and (3) the five times sit to stand test (FTSTS) and functional disability.ConclusionSubacute NSLBP patients with LI showed greater impairment in balance control than patients without LI. Reduced proprioceptive sense, increased pain, functional disability, and fear of movement were fairly related to impaired balance.

Treatment of Patients with Low Back Pain: A Comparison of Physical Therapy and Chiropractic Manipulation.

Low back pain (LBP) is a pandemic and costly musculoskeletal condition in the United States (U.S.). Patients with LBP may endure surgery, injections, and expensive visits to emergency departments. Some suggest that using physical therapy (PT) or chiropractic in the earlier stage of LBP reduces the utilization of expensive health services and lowers the treatment costs. Given that there are costs and benefits with each of these treatments, the remaining question is in a short period of time which of these treatments is optimal. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cost-effectiveness of chiropractic versus PT in the U.S. A decision tree analytic model was used for estimating the economic outcomes. The findings showed that the total average cost in the chiropractic group was $48.56 lower than the PT group. The findings also showed that the daily adjusted life years (DALY) in the chiropractic group was 0.0043 higher than the PT group. Chiropractic care was shown to be a cost-effective alternative compared with PT for adults with at least three weeks of LBP over six months.

ROLE OF YOGA IN THE CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF LOW BACK PAIN – A REVIEW

Low back pain is the most common problem in all age groups. Prevalence of low back pain increases sharply from teenage till old age. Low back pain associated with activity limitation increases with the age. It is the major reason of disability globally resulting into a significant societal burden. In majority of low back pain cases it is difficult to pinpoint the cause but various types of spinal disorders are responsible for producing low back pain. It may seem as a very common and non life threatening symptom but it affects Quality of Life as well as productivity of a person by decrease in physical activity. Exercise and Physical therapy is suggested in various guidelines for low back pain. Yoga through various asanas, pranayama and meditation techniques can help to alleviate the pain, emotional and physical stress. According to the acute and chronic stages of low back pain, appropriate selection of Asanas and relaxation techniques is necessary. This integrative approach will enable faster recovery and economical treatment option for the Low Back Pain.

Clinical Manifestation of Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain in Different Age Groups: Low Back Pain in 35,446 Patients.

Low back pain (LBP) is a major healthcare problem causing tremendous economic costs. Clinical manifestation of LBP was characterized in 35,446 patients. We focused on the comparison of the acute, subacute, and chronic LBP stage with regard to patients' ages, based on epidemiologic and clinical questionnaires (eg, painDETECT Questionnaire, Pain Disability Index), pain intensity, pain descriptors, and functional impairment. We found that neuropathic components were most frequent in chronic LBP patients at the ages of 51 to 60 years. Elderly LBP patients showed a decrease in neuropathic and an increase in nociceptive pain. The most frequently reported pain descriptors were "pressure pain" and "pain attacks" through all stages of LBP, whereas "burning" and "prickling" were most frequent in the chronic stage. Patients after back surgery presented neuropathic pain symptoms most frequently and had the highest amount of pain medication intake. Burning and prickling were revealed as possible indicators for LBP chronicity. Combined with pain attacks and pressure pain, these 4 pain descriptors might be a promising adjunct to pain intensity in terms of outcome parameters for future LBP studies. The decrease of neuropathic pain syndromes in the elderly might be explained by degenerative processes. The presented work provides important insights on LBP management in the acute, subacute, and chronic stages.

Comparison of novel kinematic variables between patients with different stages of low back pain and healthy subjects

Comparison of novel kinematic variables between patients with different stages of low back pain and healthy subjects

Emotional distress drives health services overuse in patients with acute low back pain: a longitudinal observational study

To determine whether emotional distress reported at the initial consultation affects subsequent healthcare use either directly or indirectly via moderating the influence of symptoms. Longitudinal observational study of 2891 participants consulting primary care for low back pain. Negative binomial regression models were constructed to estimate independent effects of emotional distress on healthcare use.Potential confounders were identified using directed acyclic graphs. After the initial consultation, participants had a mean (SD) of one (1.2) visit for back pain over 3months, and nine (14) visits for back pain over 12months. Higher reports of anxiety during the initial consultation led to increased short-term healthcare use (IRR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01-1.11) and higher reports of depression led to increased long-term healthcare use (IRR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.07). The effect sizes suggest that a patient with a high anxiety score (8/10) would consult 50% more frequently over 3months, and a person with a high depression score (8/10) would consult 30% more frequently over 12months, compared to a patient with equivalent pain and disability and no reported anxiety or depression. Emotional distress in the acute stage of low back pain increased subsequent consultation rates. Interventions that target emotional distress during the initial consultation are likely to reduce costly and potentially inappropriate future healthcare use for patients with non-specific low back pain.

The efficacy of manual therapy and exercise for different stages of non-specific low back pain: an update of systematic reviews

Objective:to review and update the evidence for different forms of manual therapy (MT) for patients with different stages of non-specific low back pain (LBP).Data sources:MEDLINE, Cochrane-Register-of-Controlled-Trials, PEDro, EMBASE.Method:A systematic review of MT with a literature search covering the period of January 2000 to April 2013 was conducted by two independent reviewers according to Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines. A total of 360 studies were evaluated using qualitative criteria. Two stages of LBP were categorized; combined acute–subacute and chronic. Further sub-classification was made according to MT intervention: MT1 (manipulation); MT2 (mobilization and soft-tissue-techniques); and MT3 (MT1 combined with MT2). In each sub-category, MT could be combined or not with exercise or usual medical care (UMC). Consequently, quantitative evaluation criteria were applied to 56 eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and hence 23 low-risk of bias RCTs were identified for review. Only studies providing new updated information (11/23 RCTs) are presented here.Results:Acute–subacute LBP: STRONG-evidence in favour of MT1 when compared to sham for pain, function and health improvements in the short-term (1–3 months). MODERATE-evidence to support MT1 and MT3 combined with UMC in comparison to UMC alone for pain, function and health improvements in the short-term.Chronic LBP:MODERATE to STRONG-evidence in favour of MT1 in comparison to sham for pain, function and overall-health in the short-term. MODERATE-evidence in favour of MT3 combined with exercise or UMC in comparison to exercise and back-school was established for pain, function and quality-of-life in the short and long-term. LIMITED-evidence in favour of MT2 combined with exercise and UMC in comparison to UMC alone for pain and function from short to long-term. LIMITED-evidence of no effect for MT1 with extension-exercise compared to extension-exercise alone for pain in the short to long-term.Conclusion:This systematic review updates the evidence for MT with exercise or UMC for different stages of LBP and provides recommendations for future studies.

Letter to the Editor: Other Interventions in Approach to Lumbar Disorders

Dear Editor: With great interest we read the recent article by Burns et al4 titled “A Treatment-Based Classification Approach to Examination and Intervention of Lumbar Disorders.” We would like to commend the authors’ efforts in providing a treatment-based classification approach to low back pain (LBP) in athletes that involves 3 steps. Additionally, this study suggests matching interventions for athletes according to their stage of LBP, which is very informative and robust. However, we think in this article, some therapeutic interventions in approach to athletes with LBP were missed. As it was mentioned in the article, there is an extensive list of differential diagnosis for LBP8; however, most of the causes are infrequently seen in practice.8 It is reported that about 85% of patients with LBP seen in a primary care have no identifiable cause, and so it is termed nonspecific LBP.7 It seems some treatments, such as acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, relative rest, coldness, heating, and massage therapy, can also be used to decrease the intensity of pain in patients with nonspecific LBP, while these treatments were missed in the article by Burns et al. In addition, although the effectiveness of alternative medicine for the treatment of chronic nonspecific LBP is not without dispute,13 it currently plays an indispensible role in management of patients with chronic LBP. Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely used in treatment of patients with nonspecific LBP.13 The superiority of acupuncture to sham acupuncture for pain relief of patients with LBP has not been established in previous studies.15 However, in well-designed randomized controlled studies with a low risk of bias, the effectiveness of this traditional intervention for symptom relief of LBP has been shown.3,10-12 Furthermore, clinical guidelines of societies such as the North American Spine Society,1 the American College of Physicians,5 and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence14 have also recommended acupuncture as a possible treatment option for patients with LBP. On this base, it seems reasonable to consider acupuncture as an effective therapeutic intervention in approach to patients with LBP.2 We agree with the authors that no treatment should be started for patients with LBP before performing a complete diagnostic evaluation and ruling out the major and sometimes life-threatening diagnoses that are called “red flags.” However, considering acupuncture in approach to patients with chronic LBP, which contain the majority of cases of LBP, seems to be useful. The points commonly used for acupuncture of patients with LBP have been listed before,2 although most of the time, supplemental points will also be selected by the physician according to the medical history and pain location of the patients. In use of acupuncture, there is also a list of contraindications, such as bleeding and clotting disorders and warfarin use, that should be considered by the physicians.6 We can suggest that acupuncture might be more effective in a subgroup of LBP patients. In this regard, a review of the literature reveals the following points: Most of published studies that reported the effectiveness of acupuncture in treatment of LBP were carried out on patients with nonspecific LBP in which patients do not have a radicular pain resulting from nerve root compression.9 In some of these studies radiculopathy has been stated as the exclusion criterion for the participants.3,15 In addition, insertion of needles into trigger and painful points has been reported as a part of acupuncture treatment for patients with chronic LBP.9 Therefore, we believe that in Table 4 of the article by Burns et al,4 acupuncture could be added as a therapeutic intervention in patients in stage I. As it is mentioned above, the preferred criteria for doing this intervention on the patients are patients with persistent (> 6 weeks) nonspecific LBP (no radiculopathy pain) who have positive findings of tender or trigger points in their muscles. Sincerely,

A review and proposal for a core set of factors for prospective cohorts in low back pain: A consensus statement

Introduction The Multinational Musculoskeletal Inception Cohort Study (MMICS) Statement is a consensus statement aimed at improving the quality of prospective investigations into the transition from early stages of low back pain (LBP) to persistent problems. The statement aims to help improve the quality of such studies by recommending an agreed minimal list of measures for inclusion in baseline data collection. The MMICS Statement is primarily aimed at researchers who want to investigate prognosis in LBP, and this will allow data from cohorts to be pooled and will facilitate comparisons between different health care systems. One approach to preventing acute new episodes of LBP (up to 3 weeks from onset) from developing into persistent disabling pain is to identify those individuals with LBP who are most likely to progress to chronic disability. Targeting interventions at those at highest risk could reduce the population burden of chronic LBP. A wide range of baseline parameters have been associated with poor outcome in inception cohort studies (1–6). Few existing studies have been of sufficient size and methodologic rigor to produce conclusive findings. Even in methodologically robust studies, baseline factors only account for a small proportion of the variance in outcome (7), typically around 30%. Systematic reviews of the literature could not pool data because studies used different measurements (1–3). Despite some information on physical, psychosocial, and work-related risk factors, it has not been possible to adequately estimate the comparative impact of individual psychosocial and societal factors on the transition from acute to persistent disabling LBP. How to address this problem was one focus of the VI International Forum for Primary Care Research in Low Back Pain held in April 2003. A steering group for the collaboration was appointed, and 8 national team leaders volunteered to recruit teams of national experts. Three additional team leaders were recruited by the steering group (Australia, France, and Germany). Independent experts were invited to advise on the quality of the MMICS process. The MMICS steering group, located in the UK, met regularly and included expert researchers in clinical and outcome factors in back pain (AB), work-related issues in back pain (AKB), psychosocial aspects of back pain (TP and RS), and general practice aspects of back pain (MU). The MMICS Statement set out to include 1) a minimal but comprehensive number of predictor factors based on current evidence and theory; 2) appropriate measurement instruments for agreed predictor factors based on their clinometric properties, availability, and practical characteristics; and 3) a minimum set of followup measures, including recommendations about measurement and timing.

The chronic pain coping inventory: Confirmatory factor analysis of the French version

BackgroundCoping strategies are among the psychosocial factors hypothesized to contribute to the development of chronic musculoskeletal disability. The Chronic Pain Coping Inventory (CPCI) was developed to assess eight behavioral coping strategies targeted in multidisciplinary pain treatment (Guarding, Resting, Asking for Assistance, Task Persistence, Relaxation, Exercise/Stretch, Coping Self-Statements and Seeking Social Support). The present study had two objectives. First, it aimed at measuring the internal consistency and the construct validity of the French version of the CPCI. Second, it aimed to verify if, as suggested by the CPCI authors, the scales of this instrument can be grouped according to the following coping families: Illness-focused coping and Wellness-focused coping.MethodThe CPCI was translated into French with the forward and backward translation procedure. To evaluate internal consistency, Cronbach's alphas were computed. Construct validity of the inventory was estimated through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in two samples: a group of 439 Quebecois workers on sick leave in the sub-acute stage of low back pain (less than 84 days after the work accident) and a group of 388 French chronic pain patients seen in a pain clinic. A CFA was also performed to evaluate if the CPCI scales were grouped into two coping families (i.e. Wellness-focused and Illness-focused coping).ResultsThe French version of the CPCI had adequate internal consistency in both samples. The CFA confirmed the eight-scale structure of the CPCI. A series of second-order CFA confirmed the composition of the Illness-focused family of coping (Guarding, Resting and Asking for Assistance). However, the composition of the Wellness-focused family of coping (Relaxation, Exercise/Stretch, Coping Self-Statements and Seeking Social Support) was different than the one proposed by the authors of the CPCI. Also, a positive correlation was observed between Illness and Wellness coping families.ConclusionThe present study indicates that the internal consistency and construct validity of the French version of the CPCI were adequate, but the grouping and labeling of the CPCI families of coping are debatable and deserve further analysis in the context of musculoskeletal and pain rehabilitation.

Fear-Avoidance Beliefs, Disability, and Participation in Workers and Nonworkers With Acute Low Back Pain

Fear-avoidance beliefs have been shown to be associated with disability and work status in patients with low back pain. Especially in acute low back pain, much research is needed to increase the knowledge concerning the role of fear-avoidance beliefs and its associated avoidance behavior in the influence on disability and the participation in daily and social life activities. The Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire is developed to measure such beliefs and has become increasingly popular for use in primary care practice. The aim of the current study was: 1) to investigate the factor structure of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire in a population of patients with acute low back pain by means of confirmatory factor analysis; 2) to examine the relationship between fear-avoidance beliefs and perceived disability, as well as participation in daily and social life; and 3) to investigate whether perceived disability mediates the association between pain and participation and between fear-avoidance beliefs and participation. The study has a cross-sectional design and was performed on a sample of 615 patients with acute low back pain in primary care settings in The Netherlands. Patients completed a visual analogue scale for pain, the Roland Disability Questionnaire, the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, a sociodemographic questionnaire, and 5 participation items. Confirmatory factor analysis corroborated the 2-factor structure of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire as found by Waddell et al. Investigation of the association between fear-avoidance beliefs and perceived disability or participation was performed for workers and non-workers separately. The 2 subscales of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire were significantly associated with perceived disability and participation, although there were differences between the samples. Perceived disability was significantly predicted by pain intensity and fear-avoidance beliefs. Perceived disability significantly predicted participation, and finally, the mediational role of perceived disability was supported. In the early stage of low back pain, the reduction of pain and fear-avoidance beliefs might increase the level of activity, which might foster increased participation in daily and social life activities.

腰痛に対する各種保存治療―私はこうしている ブロック療法―急性期腰痛に対する硬膜外ブロックについて

腰痛に対する各種保存治療―私はこうしている ブロック療法―急性期腰痛に対する硬膜外ブロックについて

The early stages of low back pain: a pilot study of patient diaries as a source of data.

Low back pain accounts for a significant proportion of a GP's workload, but care of the condition is widely regarded as unsatisfactory. Recent recommendations to improve primary care management include more appropriate explanatory models and early access to physical therapy. This study explored the feasibility and utility of patient diaries as a source of qualitative data on patients' experience of low back pain presenting in primary care. Within a larger study of physiotherapist-led management of low back pain presenting in general practice, a random sample of patients was invited to keep a record of their illness experience over 7 days using a diary. Patients' written accounts were then subject to qualitative thematic analysis. Diary respondents did not differ from the wider group of patients presenting with back pain. Patients recounted diverse experience of disability, pain and emotional reactions. The specific themes which emerged from our analysis support the relevance to patients of a biopsychosocial paradigm in the management of low back pain. Diaries are a feasible and valid source of qualitative data in patients with new episodes of low back pain. In addition, they may provide the clinician with useful information and their completion may offer direct benefits to patients.

The prediction of chronicity in patients with an acute attack of low back pain in a general practice setting.

Three hundred patients, attending their general practitioners with attacks of acute low back pain, formed the subject population for a study of fear avoidance and other variables in the prediction of chronicity. Follow-up was at 2 and 12 months. The hypothesis to be tested was that evidence of psychological morbidity, particularly fear-avoidance behavior, would be manifest from the outset of the presenting attack in susceptible subjects. While back pain is an almost universal human experience, only about 5% of sufferers seek medical advice. Most of these respond to conservative treatment. However, approximately 10% of those who experience an acute attack of low back pain go on to become chronic sufferers. Psychosocial and physiological data (including fear-avoidance measures) were collected from a sample of 300 acute low back pain patients within 1 week of presentation and at 2 months, to try to predict 12 month outcome. Data analysis showed that subjects who had not recovered by 2 months were those who went on to become chronic low back pain patients (7.3%). Using multiple regression analyses, fear-avoidance variables were the most successful in predicting outcome. Using multiple discriminant function analyses, the results suggest that the outcome in terms of the future course of low back pain can be correctly classified in 66% from fear-avoidance variables alone and in 88% of patients from all variables. The results suggest that, at the earliest stage of low back pain, fear of pain should be identified by clinicians and, where this is severe, pain confrontation should arguably form part of the approach to treatment.