Articles: low-back-pain.
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Research documents racial disparities in chronic low back pain (CLBP). Few studies have examined racial disparities in movement-related appraisals and no studies have examined anticipatory appraisals prior to or pain behaviors during functional activities among individuals with CLBP. This cross-sectional study examined racial differences in anticipatory appraisals of pain, concerns about harm, and anxiety, appraisals of pain and anxiety during movement, and observed pain behaviors during 3 activities of daily living (supine-to-standing bed task, sitting-to-standing chair task, floor-to-waist lifting task) in a sample (N = 126) of non-Hispanic Black (31.0%), Hispanic (30.2%), and non-Hispanic White (38.9%) individuals with CLBP. ⋯ Results indicate a need to revisit traditional theoretical and treatment models in CLBP, ensuring racial disparities in pain cognitions are considered. PERSPECTIVE: This study examined racial disparities in anticipatory and movement-related appraisals, and pain behaviors during activities of daily living among Non-Hispanic Black, Non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic individuals with CLBP. Racial disparities identified in the current study have potentially important theoretical implications surrounding cognitive-behavioral and fear-avoidance mechanisms of pain.
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The molecular processes driving the transition from acute to chronic low back pain (LBP) remain poorly understood and are likely to be sexually dimorphic. This study aimed to explore sex differences in the serum proteomic profile of people experiencing an acute LBP episode and determine if serum protein concentrations were associated with three-month outcome. Serum samples were collected through venepuncture from 30 female and 29 male participants experiencing an acute LBP episode. ⋯ This data provides preliminary evidence that biological processes during an acute LBP episode may contribute to the resolution, or persistence, of LBP symptoms at 3 months, however, these processes differ between males and females. PERSPECTIVE: Differential expression of serum proteins was observed between male and female participants during an acute LBP episode. This preliminary work provides a foundation for future research targeting distinct immune system processes in males and females that may interfere with the transition from acute to chronic LBP.
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Significant progress has been made in linking measures of individual alpha frequency (IAF) and pain. A lower IAF has been associated with chronic neuropathic pain and with an increased sensitivity to pain in healthy young adults. However, the translation of these findings to chronic low back pain (cLBP) are sparse and inconsistent. ⋯ Second, we calculated individual alpha frequency using 3 different but established methods; the effect of fear on individual alpha frequency was robust across all methods. Third, fear of movement, pain intensity, and disability highly correlated with each other and together significantly predicted IAF. Our findings are the first to show that individuals with cLBP and high fear have a lower peak alpha frequency.
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Comparative analysis. ⋯ ChatGPT was able to produce a sufficient clinical guideline recommendation for low back pain, with overall improvements if initially prompted. However, it tended to wrongly suggest evidence and often failed to mention, especially postprompt, when there is not enough evidence to adequately give an accurate recommendation.
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Patients with acute vertebral compression fractures (aVCFs) are frequently transferred to an emergency department by ambulance. The most useful imaging modality is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, which patients should be prioritized for MRI evaluation may be unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma D-dimer levels as a biomarker for aVCFs. ⋯ Plasma D-dimer levels can provide useful diagnostic information about whether an aVCF is present.