Lumbar Spine & Low Back Pain

Baseline Examination Factors Associated With Clinical Improvement After Dry Needling In Individuals With Low Back Pain

Authors: Shane L. Koppenhaver, PT, PhD Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, Ahead of Print Pages: 1-31 doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.5801 Study Design Quasi-experimental. Objectives To explore for associations between demographic, patient history, and physical examination variables and short-term improvement in self-reported disability following dry needling therapy performed on individuals with low back pain (LBP). Background Dry […]

What Are Long-term Predictors of Outcomes for Lumbar Disc Herniation? A Randomized and Observational Study

Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2015 Jun;473(6):1920-30. doi: 10.1007/s11999-014-3803-7. Kerr D, Zhao W, Lurie JD. Abstract BACKGROUND: Although previous studies have illustrated improvements in surgical cohorts for patients with intervertebral disc herniation, there are limited data on predictors of long-term outcomes comparing surgical and nonsurgical outcomes. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We assessed outcomes of operative and nonoperative treatment for […]

Effects of lumbar stabilization exercise on functional disability and lumbar lordosis angle in patients with chronic low back pain – Full Text

J Phys Ther Sci. 2015 Jun; 27(6): 1983–1985. Published online 2015 Jun 30. doi: 10.1589/jpts.27.1983 PMCID: PMC4500026 Igsoo Cho, MS, PT, Abstract [Purpose] This study examined the effects of lumbar stabilization exercises on the functional disability and lumbar lordosis angles in patients with chronic low back pain. [Subjects] The subjects were 30 patients with chronic […]

Association between knee pain and low back pain

J Pak Med Assoc. 2015 Jun;65(6):626-31. Rahbar M Abstract OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between knee pain and lumbar disorders. METHODS: The case-control study was conducted at Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran, from December 2009 to March 2011, and comprised patients with primary complaint of knee pain. A separate […]

Clinical decision rule for primary care patient with acute low back pain at risk of developing chronic pain

The Spine Journal Volume 15, Issue 7, 1 July 2015, Pages 1577–1586 Clinical Study Wolf E. Mehling, MD Abstract Background context Primary care clinicians need to identify candidates for early interventions to prevent patients with acute pain from developing chronic pain. Purpose We conducted a 2-year prospective cohort study of risk factors for the progression […]

Family Practice Experts Recommendations for Chronic Pain Includes Manipulation, Endurance Exercise, Acupuncture, etc

Family Practice Essentials. 2015 May;432:21-6. Chronic pain management: nonpharmacological therapies for chronic pain. Chang KL, Fillingim R2, Hurley RW3, Schmidt S4. Abstract Nonpharmacologic therapies have become a vital part of managing chronic pain (CP). Although these can be used as stand-alone therapies, nonpharmacologic treatments often are used to augment and complement pharmacologic treatments (ie, multimodal […]

Articular dysfunction patterns in patients with mechanical low back pain: A clinical algorithm to guide specific mobilization and manipulation techniques

Manual Therapy Volume 20, Issue 3, June 2015, Pages 499-502 Manual Therapy Professional issue V. Dewitte, B. Cagnie Abstract Recent systematic reviews have demonstrated reasonable evidence that lumbar mobilization and manipulation techniques are beneficial. However, knowledge on optimal techniques and doses, and its clinical reasoning is currently lacking. To address this, a clinical algorithm is […]

Spine motion during coitus (with commentary on the implications)

Physicists and engineers, among others, might be able to appreciate the care that went into this study of female spine motion during coitus: “Documenting female spine motion during coitus with a commentary on the implications for the low back pain patient,”Natalie Sidorkewicz and Stuart M. McGill, European Spine Journal, Volume 24, Issue 3, March 2015, pp. 513-520. The […]

Can patients identify what triggers their back pain?

Pain. 2015 Jun 1. [Epub ahead of print] Can patients identify what triggers their back pain? Secondary analysis of a case-crossover study. Parreira P Abstract The aim of this case-crossover study was to investigate the extent to which patients can accurately nominate what triggered their new episode of sudden onset, acute low back pain (LBP). […]

Associations between lumbosacral transitional anatomy types and degeneration at the transitional and adjacent segments

Farshad-Amacker NA, et al. Spine J. 2015. Show full citation Abstract BACKGROUND CONTEXT: The relation between specific types of lumbosacral transitional vertebra and the degree of degeneration at and adjacent to the transitional level is unclear. It is also unknown whether the adjacent cephalad segment to a transitional vertebra is prone to greater degeneration than a […]

Depression May Increase Risk of Low Back Pain

05.27.2015 Patients with symptoms of depression are at increased risk of developing a new episode of low back pain compared with those who are not depressed, a meta-analysis has found. Analysis also showed that the more severe the depression, the greater the risk of low back pain. In a pooled analysis of 19 studies, 11 […]

First study on the effects of unstable shoes with curved soles on trunk muscles and lumbar lordosis

Date: May 18, 2015 Source: Asociación RUVID Summary: Unstable shoes – compared to normal shoes – improve trunk muscle activity in order to maintain balance, which in turn favors spine stability and can help reduce low back pain, new research concludes. The few studies that have been conducted so far on this type of footwear […]

Do participants with low back pain who respond to spinal manipulative therapy differ biomechanically from non-responders, untreated or asymptomatic controls?

Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2015 May 27. [Epub ahead of print] Wong AY Abstract STUDY DESIGN: Non-randomized controlled studyObjective. To determine if low back pain (LBP) patients who respond to spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) differ biomechanically from non-responders and untreated asymptomatic controls. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Some, but not all LBP patients report improvement in […]

Efficacy and Safety of White Willow Bark

Phytother Res. 2015 May 22. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5377. [Epub ahead of print] Efficacy and Safety of White Willow Bark (Salix alba) Extracts. Shara M, Stohs SJ. Abstract Willow bark extract has been used for thousands of years as an anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic. In spite of its long history of use, relatively few human and animal […]

Low back pain: A biomechanical rationale based on “patterns” of disc degeneration

Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2015 May 20. [Epub ahead of print] Von Forell GA1 Stephens TK, Samartzis D, Bowden AE. Abstract STUDY DESIGN: A nonlinear finite element study of a lumbar spine with different “patterns” of multi-level intervertebral disc degeneration. OBJECTIVE: To determine how different patterns of multi-level disc degeneration influence the biomechanical behavior of the […]

Hip Function and Predictors of Subjective Outcomes in Individuals With a History of Low Back Pain

Mark A. Sutherlin, MS, ATC, CSCS; Joseph M. Hart, PhD, ATC Athletic Training and Sports Health Care May/June 2015 – Volume 7 · Issue 3: 108-116 Posted May 13, 2015 DOI: 10.3928/19425864-20150422-06 Increased fatigability of the trunk and hip extensors has been reported in individuals with a history of low back pain. However, muscle function […]

Oral Steroids for Acute Radiculopathy Due to a Herniated Lumbar Disk

Oral Steroids for Acute Radiculopathy Due to a Herniated Lumbar Disk: A Randomized Clinical Trial Harley Goldberg, DO JAMA. 2015;313(19):1915-1923. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.4468. Importance Oral steroids are commonly used to treat acute sciatica due to a herniated disk but have not been evaluated in an appropriately powered clinical trial. Objective To determine if oral prednisone is more effective […]

Sympathetic Dysfunction in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain and Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Clinical Journal of Pain: Post Acceptance: May 08, 2015 doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000250 Sympathetic Dysfunction in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain and Failed Back Surgery Syndrome. El-Badawy, Mohja A. MD; El Mikkawy, Dalia M. E. MD Abstract Background: Chronic low back pain (LBP) is defined as pain that persists longer than 12 weeks and is often […]

Common questions about chronic low back pain Am Fam Physician

Am Fam Physician. 2015 May 15;91(10):708-14. Common questions about chronic low back pain. Herndon CM, Zoberi KS, Gardner BJ. Abstract More than 30% of U.S. adults report having experienced low back pain within the preceding three months. Although most low back pain is nonspecific and self-limiting, a subset of patients develop chronic low back pain, […]

A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial of Oxymorphone Hydrochloride and Propoxyphene/Acetaminophen Combination for the Treatment of Neurogenic Claudication Associated With Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Markman, John D. MD Spine15 May 2015Vol. 40 – Issue 10: p 684–691Abstract Study Design. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-dose crossover study. Objective. To test the analgesic efficacy of oxymorphone hydrochloride (OH) and propoxyphene/acetaminophen (PA) for patients with neurogenic claudication associated with lumbar spinal stenosis. Summary of Background Data. Although opioids are often prescribed for neurogenic […]