Lumbar Spine & Low Back Pain

New approach to diagnosing low back pain, revealed by clinical study

Date: January 7, 2016 Source: North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System Summary: A new, personalized approach to diagnosing low back pain has been discovered by researchers. Low back pain is the second most common cause of physician visits in the US and contributes to an estimated $100 billion in US costs per year, making […]

The Effectiveness of Mechanical Traction Among Subgroups of Patients With Low Back and Leg Pain: A Randomized Trial

Authors: Anne Thackeray, PT, PhD, MPH Abstract Study Design Randomized clinical trial. Background The recommended initial management strategy for these patients with low back pain and signs of nerve root compression is conservative treatment but there is little evidence to guide the most appropriate management strategy. Preliminary research suggests a treatment protocol of mechanical traction […]

Impact of a Sit-Stand Workstation on Chronic Low Back Pain

J Occup Environ Med. 2015 Dec 31. [Epub ahead of print] Impact of a Sit-Stand Workstation on Chronic Low Back Pain: Results of a Randomized Trial. Ognibene GT, Torres W, von Eyben R, Horst KC. Abstract OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine whether chronic low back pain (LBP) might be attenuated through […]

Meditation: how could it benefit your health?

Written by Honor Whiteman Published: Sunday 27 December 2015 For many people, the word “meditation” is likely to evoke images of a cross-legged individual, eyes closed, humming to themselves, but there is so much more to the practice than meets the eye. Meditation is an ancient mind and body practice that is estimated to date […]

Occupant and Crash Characteristics of Elderly Subjects With Thoracic and Lumbar Spine Injuries After Motor Vehicle Collisions

Spine: January 2016 – Volume 41 – Issue 1 – p 32–38 Rao, Raj D. MD Abstract Study Design. Retrospective study of a prospectively gathered database. Objective. To investigate the incidence and pattern of thoracic and lumbar (T and L) spine injuries among elderly subjects involved in motor vehicle collision (MVC). Summary of Background Data. […]

Quantitative evaluation of the lumbosacral sagittal alignment in degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis

Int J Spine Surg. 2015 Dec 2;9:68. doi: 10.14444/2068. eCollection 2015. Makirov SK, Yuz AA, Jahaf MT, Nikulina AA. Abstract GOAL OF THE STUDY: This study intends to develop a method of quantitative sagittal balance parameters assessment, based on a geometrical model of lumbar spine and sacrum. METHODS: One hundred eight patients were divided into […]

MRI Findings of Disc Degeneration are More Prevalent in Adults with Low Back Pain than in Asymptomatic Controls

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2015 Dec;36(12):2394-9. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A4498. Epub 2015 Sep 10. MRI Findings of Disc Degeneration are More Prevalent in Adults with Low Back Pain than in Asymptomatic Controls: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Brinjikji W, Diehn FE, Jarvik JG, Carr CM, Kallmes DF, Murad MH4 Luetmer PH. Abstract BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Imaging features of […]

Exercise interventions for the treatment of chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Clin Rehabil. 2015 Dec;29(12):1155-67. doi: 10.1177/0269215515570379. Epub 2015 Feb 13. Searle A, Spink M, Ho A, Chuter V. Abstract OBJECTIVE: To determine, for adults with chronic low back pain, which exercise interventions are the most effective at reducing pain compared to other treatments. DATA SOURCES: A search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO and The […]

Study: Opioids, Muscle Relaxants Ineffective for Acute Low Back Pain

DECEMBER 04, 2015 Prescribing opioids and muscle relaxants to acute low back pain (LBP) patients who are already on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) does not provide additional pain relief, a new study suggests. There are more than 2.5 million acute LBP-related visits to emergency departments in the United States annually, where patients are often treated […]

Disc degeneration implies low back pain

Theor Biol Med Model. 2015 Nov 9;12(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s12976-015-0020-3. Zheng CJ, Chen J. Abstract BACKGROUND: Low back pain exerts a tremendous burden on individual patients and society due to its prevalence and ability to cause long-term disability. Contemporary treatment and prevention efforts are stymied by the absence of a confirmed cause for the majority of […]

Recurrence of Pain after Usual Non-Operative Care for Symptomatic Lumbar Disc Herniation: Analysis of Data from the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial

PM R. 2015 Nov 5. pii: S1934-1482(15)01103-X. doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2015.10.016. [Epub ahead of print] Suri P, Pearson AM, Scherer EA, Zhao W, Lurie JD, Morgan TS, Weinstein JN. Abstract OBJECTIVE: To determine risks and predictors of recurrent leg and low back pain (LBP) following unstructured, usual non-operative care for subacute/chronic symptomatic lumbar disc herniation (LDH). DESIGN: […]

Risk factors for lumbar intervertebral disc height narrowing: a population-based longitudinal study in the elderly

BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2015 Nov 9;16(1):344. doi: 10.1186/s12891-015-0798-5. Akeda K, Yamada T, Inoue N, Nishimura A, Sudo A. Abstract BACKGROUND: The progression of disc degeneration is generally believed to be associated with low back pain and/or degenerative lumbar diseases, especially in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate changes in lumbar […]

Naproxen With Cyclobenzaprine or Oxycodone/Acetaminophen for Acute Low-Back Pain

October 28, 2015 JAMA : The Journal of the American Medical Association TAKE-HOME MESSAGE Patients with acute non-traumatic, non-radicular low-back pain for In patients presenting to the emergency department with acute low-back pain, the addition of cyclobenzaprine or oxycodone/acetaminophen to naproxen had no clinical benefit over naproxen alone. Primary Care Written by David Rakel MD, […]

Effect of Lumbar Disc Degeneration and Low-Back Pain on the Lumbar Lordosis in Supine and Standing: A Cross-Sectional MRI Study

Spine: November 2015 – Volume 40 – Issue 21 – p 1690–1696 Hansen, Bjarke B. MD Abstract Study Design. Cross-sectional study. Objective. To examine the influence of low-back pain (LBP) and lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) on the lumbar lordosis in weight-bearing positional magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI). Summary of Background Data. The lumbar lordosis increases with […]

Naproxen With Cyclobenzaprine, Oxycodone/Acetaminophen, or Placebo for Treating Acute Low Back Pain

A Randomized Clinical Trial October 20, 2015 Benjamin W. Friedman, MD, MS Importance Low back pain (LBP) is responsible for more than 2.5 million visits to US emergency departments (EDs) annually. These patients are usually treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen, opioids, or skeletal muscle relaxants, often in combination. Objective To compare functional outcomes and […]

A systematic review comparing the costs of chiropractic care to other interventions for spine pain in the United States

BMC Health Serv Res. 2015; 15: 474. Published online 2015 Oct 19. doi: 10.1186/s12913-015-1140-5 PMCID: PMC4615617 Simon Dagenais Abstract Background Although chiropractors in the United States (US) have long suggested that their approach to managing spine pain is less costly than other health care providers (HCPs), it is unclear if available evidence supports this premise. […]

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Chiropractic Compared to Physical Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain in Community Dwelling Geriatric Patients

Dennis E. Enix, DC, MBA Topics in Integrative Health Care 2015, Vol. 6(1)   ID: 6.1002 Background: Chronic low back pain is the most frequently reported musculoskeletal condition in the elderly, affecting up to 50% of this age cohort. It is a leading falls related comorbidity and robust predictor of morbidity among the elderly. Methods: This […]

Inflammatory Back Pain Linked With Bone Loss

09.26.2015 Anti-TNF and NSAID therapies have protective effects by Diana Swift Contributing Writer More than four in 10 patients having inflammatory back pain suggestive of early axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) and followed for 2 years experienced bone loss in the lumbar spine and hip, according to findings published in Rheumatology. Furthermore, even a short duration of […]

Epidural Corticosteroid Injections for Radiculopathy and Spinal Stenosis

Ann Intern Med. 2015 Sep 1;163(5):373-81. doi: 10.7326/M15-0934. Epidural Corticosteroid Injections for Radiculopathy and Spinal Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Roger Chou, Robin Hashimoto, Janna Friedly, Rongwei Fu, Christina Bougatsos, Tracy Dana, Sean D Sullivan, Jeffrey Jarvik PMID: 26302454 DOI: 10.7326/M15-0934 Abstract Background: Use of epidural corticosteroid injections is increasing. Purpose: To review evidence […]

Chronic Back Pain May Be Arachnoiditis

Nancy A. Melville September 23, 2015 NATIONAL HARBOR, MD — A clinical profile of chronic back pain accompanied by a specific report of severe pain upon standing for too long and leg tremors may suggest an often overlooked diagnosis of arachnoiditis, researchers say. “Every pain specialist should be aware that if they see a back […]