Articles: low-back-pain.
-
Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) has been used for the treatment of radicular pain, due to a herniated intervertebral disc, but so far the data are anecdotal. This is a retrospective study on 13 consecutive patients with this type of pain, at levels L3 to S1. All patients had a diagnosis confirmed by imaging, all had neurological abnormalities, and all were scheduled for surgical intervention. ⋯ Neurological abnormalities resolved except in one patient, who had decreased sensibility in a small area in the L3 dermatome at the last follow-up. All professionally active patients went back to work after 0.49 months (0.1 to 1). It is concluded that PRF may potentially be a viable alternative for epidural steroid injections in the treatment of acute radicular pain, due to a herniated intervertebral disc, and that further studies, including a control group, should be carried out to establish the value of this method.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Implementation of clinical guidelines on physical therapy for patients with low back pain: randomized trial comparing patient outcomes after a standard and active implementation strategy.
An active strategy was developed for the implementation of the clinical guidelines on physical therapy for patients with low back pain. The effect of this strategy on patients' physical functioning, coping strategy, and beliefs regarding their low back pain was studied. ⋯ The authors found no additional benefit to applying an active strategy to implement the physical therapy guidelines for patients with low back pain. Active implementation strategies are not recommended if patient outcomes are to be improved.
-
Clinical biomechanics · Jun 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialSupplementation of general endurance exercise with stabilisation training versus general exercise only. Physiological and functional outcomes of a randomised controlled trial of patients with recurrent low back pain.
Determination of the mode of action of new exercise techniques in different back pain populations is lacking. The effectiveness of supplementing an exercise programme with stabilisation exercises concerning physiological and functional parameters in non-specific back pain patients is unknown. ⋯ An 8-week stabilisation exercise-enhanced approach presented equal benefits to a general endurance-based exercise programme for patients with recurrent non-specific back pain. A slightly steeper slope for the erector spinae in the G group was the only electromyographic fatigue alteration noted. Concomitant strength improvement probably reflects neural input changes rather than histochemical muscle changes. Physical exercise alone and not the exercise type was the key determinant for improvement in this patient group.
-
Comparative Study
Health related quality of life and quantitative pain measurement in females with chronic non-malignant pain.
The aim of the present study was to assess, compare, and correlate the pain response to an experimental pain stimulus (hyperalgesia to pressure pain threshold (PPT) measured from different body sites), the pain intensity (VAS) of the habitual pain, and quality of life parameters (SF-36) in groups of females with chronic non-malignant pain syndromes. Forty female pain patients with fibromyalgia/whiplash (n = 10), endometriosis (n = 10), low back pain (n = 10), or rheumatoid arthritis (n = 10), as well as 41 age-matched healthy female controls participated in the study. The fibromyalgia/whiplash patients scored significantly higher (p < 0.04) VAS ratings (median rating = 7.0) than the endometriosis (6.0), low back pain (6.0), and rheumatoid arthritis (3.5) patients. ⋯ A significant negative correlation was found between VAS rating and quality of life (p < 0.04). Significant correlation (p < 0.05) was found between pressure hyperalgesia measured at lowest PPT sites and the impairment of SF-36 physical function as well as mental health parameters. This study demonstrates significant generalised pressure hyperalgesia in four groups of chronic pain patients, correlations between degree of pressure hyperalgesia and impairment of some quality of life parameters, and increased pain intensity of the ongoing pain is associated with decreased quality of life.