Articles: low-back-pain.
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Complement Ther Med · Mar 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effectiveness of relaxation acupoint stimulation and acupressure with aromatic lavender essential oil for non-specific low back pain in Hong Kong: a randomised controlled trial.
To assess the effect of acupoint stimulation with electrodes combined with acupressure using an aromatic essential oil (lavender) as an add-on-treatment on pain relief and enhancing the physical functional activities among adults with sub-acute or chronic non-specific low back pain. ⋯ Our results show that 8-sessions of acupoint stimulation followed by acupressure with aromatic lavender oil were an effective method for short-term LBP relief. No adverse effects were reported. To complement mainstream medical treatment for sub-acute LBP, the combined therapy of acupoint stimulation followed by acupressure with aromatic lavender oil may be one of the choices as an add-on therapy for short-term reduction of LBP.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2004
Self-discrepancy in chronic low back pain: relation to pain, depression, and psychological distress.
Self-discrepancies occur when patients' evaluations of their actual self differ from their views of who they ideally would like to be (ideal self) or feel they ought to be (ought self), or from patients' perceptions of how significant others wish they could be (ideal-other self) or ought to be (ought-other self). These self-discrepancies may be related to psychological functioning and adjustment to pain. This study sought to: 1) determine the reliability of self-discrepancy assessments in patients; 2) determine whether each of the four types of self-discrepancies (actual self vs. ideal self, actual self vs. ought self, actual self vs. ideal-other self and actual self vs. ought-other self) measure a distinct type of self-discrepancy; and, 3) examine the relationship of self-discrepancies to pain intensity, depression, and psychological distress in 93 chronic low back pain patients. ⋯ Furthermore, data analyses showed that patients who had large ought-other self-discrepancies reported more severe pain and higher levels of psychological distress. Patients who had large ideal self-discrepancies reported higher levels of depression and psychological distress. Taken together, these findings suggest that self-discrepancy can be reliably assessed in patients with persistent pain and demonstrate that self-discrepancies are related in meaningful ways to measures of pain, depression, and psychological distress in chronic low back pain patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Effects of functional restoration versus 3 hours per week physical therapy: a randomized controlled study.
Randomized parallel-group comparative trial with a 6-month follow-up period. ⋯ This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a functional restoration program on important outcome measures, such as sick leave, in a country that has a social system that protects people facing difficulties at work.
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Complement Ther Med · Mar 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialAcupuncture for low back pain: traditional diagnosis and treatment of 148 patients in a clinical trial.
To assess patterns of diagnosis, including concordance, and treatment within a clinical trial of traditional acupuncture for low back pain. ⋯ Diagnostic concordance among practitioners was reasonable, and clear themes emerged for treatment. Further research is required to develop a flexible trial protocol with scope for individualised treatment.
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In several prospective studies it has been demonstrated that psychological factors are better predictors of low back pain than biographical or medical factors. The most elaborate model for the development of chronic low back pain is the model of fear avoidance. The essential feature of this model is that exaggerated negative orientations towards pain ("pain catastrophizing") lead to fear of movements and the belief that movements will lead to more pain. ⋯ On the other hand, reduction of uncertainty via adequate information about the non-serious nature of back pain disorders may lead to an adequate confrontative pain behavior, less emotional arousal and more useful coping mechanisms. In particular, the uncritical use of widespread back schools has to be looked upon carefully for pronouncing avoidance learning. For chronic pain, therapy must include mechanisms from the treatment of phobias in which pain behavior is looked upon as the result of a phobic process.