Lumbar Spine & Low Back Pain

Associations Between Low Back Pain and Muscle-strengthening Activity in U.S. Adults

Alnojeidi, Albatool H. MSH*,†; Johnson, Tammie M. DrPH, MPH‡; Richardson, Michael R. MSH*; Churilla, James R. PhD, MPH* Spine: August 15th, 2017 – Volume 42 – Issue 16 – p 1220–1225 doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000002063 Study Design. This was a cross-sectional study. Objective. The primary aim of the study was to examine the association between low back […]

Four symptoms define the piriformis syndrome: an updated systematic review of its clinical features

From this article in the European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology they found that these four symptoms: Buttock pain, pain aggravated on sitting, External tenderness near the greater sciatic notch Pain on any maneuver that increases piriformis muscle tension,and Limitation of straight leg raising were the most accurate tests that could indicate that you […]

Atrophy of gluteus maximus among women with a history of chronic low back pain.

PLoS One. 2017 Jul 17;12(7):e0177008. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177008. eCollection 2017. Amabile AH, Bolte JH, Richter SD. Author  Abstract BACKGROUND: Although the relationship between low back pain (LBP) and the size of certain trunk muscles has been extensively studied, the relationship between gluteus maximus (GM) size and LBP has been only minimally examined. Determining whether such a relationship exists would […]

Study: Yoga helps back pain among veterans

In a study including 150 military veterans with chronic low back pain, researcher Dr. Erik J. Groessl and his team from the VA San Diego Healthcare System found that veterans who completed a 12-week yoga program had better scores on a disability questionnaire, improved pain intensity scores, and a decline in opioid use. Groessl is a researcher with […]

Is non-pharmacological treatment an effective option for chronic low back pain?

Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2017 Jul;38(3):169-172. Ondrejkovicova A, Petrovics G, Svitkova K, Balogh V Abstract OBJECTIVE: Despite of pain being important warning signal for body ability to respond to internal or external threats, chronic pain is perceived as a discomfort by patients, leading to somatic, emotional and social negative changes. Lifestyle, wrong seating habits and some […]

Researchers: Spinal Manipulation for Low Back Pain Comparable to NSAIDs

JULY 18, 2017 Spinal manipulation therapy was shown to have modest improvements on pain and function at up to six weeks in patients with acute low back pain (LBP), according to a study published in JAMA (2017;317:1451-1460). Moreover, the therapy was associated with only “temporary minor musculoskeletal harms,” according to the researchers. Paul G. Shekelle, […]

Radiofrequency Denervation Not Shown to Improve Chronic Low-Back Pain

July 13, 2017 JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association TAKE-HOME MESSAGE Patients with chronic low-back pain originating at the facet joints, sacroiliac joints, or a combination of facet joints, sacroiliac joints, and intervertebral disks received a 3-month exercise program and psychological support. In addition, the intervention group received one to three radiofrequency denervation […]

Here’s something completely different for low back pain

POSTED JULY 06, 2017, 10:00 AM Robert H. Shmerling, MD Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing It’s a question that has challenged generations of patients and their doctors. The answer has changed over the years. When I was in medical school in the early 1980s, bedrest for a week or more was often recommended for severe […]

Yoga, Physical Therapy, or Education for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Noninferiority Trial

Published: Ann Intern Med. 2017. DOI: 10.7326/M16-2579 2017 American College of Physicians Robert B. Saper, MD, MPH Abstract Background: Yoga is effective for mild to moderate chronic low back pain (cLBP), but its comparative effectiveness with physical therapy (PT) is unknown. Moreover, little is known about yoga’s effectiveness in underserved patients with more severe functional […]

Are people with chronic low back pain meeting the physical activity guidelines? A co-twin control study

The Spine Journal Volume 17, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 845–854 Joshua Robert Zadro, BAppSc (Phty) (Hons) Abstract Background Despite a large amount of research investigating physical activity (PA) levels in people with chronic low back pain (LBP), no study has investigated whether people with chronic LBP are meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) PA […]

Low back surgery patients with previous THR have less pain reduction after surgery

June 7, 2017 VIENNA — Patients who had previously undergone total hip replacement experienced less reduction of pain 1 year after low back surgery compared to patients with no prior total hip replacement, according to a presentation scheduled to be presented during the Free Papers award session for orthopaedics at the 18th EFORT Annual Congress […]

Influences of lumbar disc herniation on the kinematics in multi-segmental spine, pelvis, and lower extremities during five activities of daily living – Full Text Article

Shengzheng Kuai, Wenyu Zhou BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2017 18:216 Abstract Background Low back pain (LBP) is a common problem that can contribute to motor dysfunction. Previous studies reporting the changes in kinematic characteristics caused by LBP present conflicting results. This study aimed to apply the multisegmental spinal model to investigate the kinematic changes in patients […]

Spinal mobilization vs conventional physiotherapy in the management of chronic low back pain due to spinal disk degeneration: a randomized controlled trial

J Man Manip Ther. 2017 May;25(2):66-73. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2016.1184435. Epub 2016 Jun 23. Krekoukias G Abstract OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine the efficacy of spinal mobilization in subjects with low back pain (LBP) and associated spinal disk degeneration. METHODS: Seventy-five subjects suffering from chronic LBP (>3 months) were randomly allocated into 3 groups of […]

Uneven intervertebral motion sharing is related to disc degeneration and is greater in patients with chronic, non-specific low back pain – Full Text Article

European Spine Journal pp 1–9 Uneven intervertebral motion sharing is related to disc degeneration and is greater in patients with chronic, non-specific low back pain: an in vivo, cross-sectional cohort comparison of intervertebral dynamics using quantitative fluoroscopy Authors Alan Breen Cite this article as: Breen, A. & Breen, A. Eur Spine J (2017). doi:10.1007/s00586-017-5155-y Abstract […]

Clinical classification in low back pain: best-evidence diagnostic rules based on systematic reviews- Full Text

BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2017; 18: 188. Published online 2017 May 12. doi:  10.1186/s12891-017-1549-6 PMCID: PMC5429540 Tom Petersen Abstract Background Clinical examination findings are used in primary care to give an initial diagnosis to patients with low back pain and related leg symptoms. The purpose of this study was to develop best evidence Clinical Diagnostic Rules (CDR] for the […]

FDA proposes that doctors learn about acupuncture and chiropractic for pain management

By MEGAN THIELKING @meggophone MAY 10, 2017 Chiropractors and acupuncturists who have lobbied for a bigger role in treating pain have won a preliminary endorsement from federal health officials. The Food and Drug Administration released proposed changes Wednesday to its blueprint on educating health care providers about treating pain. The guidelines now recommend that doctors get information about chiropractic care and […]

Effects of Myofascial Release in Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Arguisuelas, María D. PT, PhD Spine: 1 May 2017 – Volume 42 – Issue 9 – p 627–634 doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000001897 Randomized Trial Study Design. Double-blind, randomized parallel sham-controlled trial with concealed allocation and intention-to treat analysis. Objective. To investigate the effects of an isolate myofascial release (MFR) protocol on pain, disability, and fear-avoidance beliefs in […]

Correction of Grade 2 Spondylolisthesis Following a Non-Surgical Structural Spinal Rehabilitation Protocol Using Lumbar Traction: A Case Study and Selective Review of Literature – Full Text Article

J Radiol Case Rep. 2017 May 31;11(5):13-26. doi: 10.3941/jrcr.v11i5.2924. eCollection 2017 May. Fedorchuk C, Lightstone DF, McRae C, Kaczor D. Abstract OBJECTIVE: Discuss the use of non-surgical spinal rehabilitation protocol in the case of a 69-year-old female with a grade 2 spondylolisthesis. A selective literature review and discussion are provided. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 69-year-old female […]

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Effective for Treating Low-Back Pain in the Short-Term

May 04, 2017 Annals of Internal Medicine TAKE-HOME MESSAGE The authors of this meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for the treatment of low-back pain. There was an association between MBSR and improved pain and physical functioning in the short-term, but this was not sustained. There was no impact on disability, mental […]

The relationships between low back pain and lumbar lordosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Spine J. 2017 May 2. pii: S1529-9430(17)30191-2. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2017.04.034. [Epub ahead of print] Chun SW Abstract BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Clinicians regard lumbar lordotic curvature (LLC) with respect to low back pain (LBP) in a contradictory fashion. The time-honored point of view is that LLC itself, or its increment, causes LBP. On the other hand, recently, the […]