Articles: low-back-pain.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Apr 2008
Reliability of the assessment of lumbar range of motion and maximal isometric strength in patients with chronic low back pain.
To examine the interobserver reliability of the assessment of lumbar range of motion (ROM) and maximal isometric strength in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) using commercially available equipment. ⋯ The interobserver reliability is excellent for the measurement of the ROM of the lumbar spine and for the maximal isometric strength using specific devices in patients with CLBP.
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In a sample of patients who underwent instrumented spinal fusions for chronic low back pain (CLBP), the purposes of this study were: to determine the amount of pain patients experienced and to determine the impact of length of time since surgery, use of pain medication and their outlook on the future on these pain intensity scores. ⋯ A high percentage of patients with CLBP continue to experience pain 1-8 years after spinal fusion. A positive outlook towards the future seems to be associated with less pain in these patients. Relevance to clinical practice. Patients who continue to experience pain and have a more negative outlook on the future may benefit from psychoeducational interventions that teach them how to better cope with their pain.
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Complement Ther Med · Apr 2008
Self-help advice as a process integral to traditional acupuncture care: implications for trial design.
In the literature on acupuncture research, the active (or specific) component of acupuncture is almost always presented as acupuncture needling alone. However, specific components, by definition, should include all interventions driven by acupuncture theory that are also believed to be causally associated with outcome. In this paper, we explore the delivery of self-help advice as a component of the process of acupuncture care, and discuss the implications for future trial designs. ⋯ Within acupuncture care, self-help advice is not seen as an 'add-on' but rather as an integral and interactive component of a theory-based complex intervention. Studies designed to evaluate the overall effectiveness of traditional acupuncture should accommodate the full range of therapeutic components, strategies and related patient-centred treatment processes. In acupuncture trials, non-needling components, such as self-help advice, when drawn directly from the diagnosis and integral to the process of care, should not be misclassified as incidental, non-specific, or placebo if we are to accurately assess the value of treatment as delivered.
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Scand J Med Sci Sports · Apr 2008
Associations of physical activity and inactivity with low back pain in adolescents.
Low back pain (LBP) is a common health problem already in adolescence. Physical activity has been suggested as a risk factor for LBP in adolescents, but the current evidence is conflicting. This study examined the association of physical activity and amount of sitting with LBP. ⋯ Being physically very active (more than 6 h of brisk physical activity per week) was associated with increased prevalence of "consultation for LBP" in both sexes, and with "reporting LBP" in girls, compared with being moderately active (2-3 h of brisk physical activity per week). High amount of sitting associated with "consultation for LBP" and "reporting LBP" in girls, but not in boys. We conclude that very active participation in physical activities in both sexes and a high amount of sitting in girls are related to self-reported LBP.
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Posterior-to-anterior (PA) mobilization and press-up exercises are common physical therapy interventions used to treat low back pain. The purpose of this study was to examine the immediate effects of PA mobilization and a press-up exercise on pain with standing extension and lumbar extension in people with nonspecific low back pain. ⋯ The findings of this study support the use of PA mobilization and a press-up exercise for improving lumbar extension in people with nonspecific low back pain. Although statistically significant within-group changes in pain were detected, the clinical meaningfulness of these changes is questionable.