Lumbar Spine & Low Back Pain

Chiropractic care helps reduce pain and disability by 83.2% in pregnancy related lumbopelvic pain

Outcome of pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain treated according to a diagnosis-based decision rule: a prospective observational cohort study. Murphy DR1, Hurwitz EL, McGovern EE. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009 Oct;32(8):616-24. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2009.09.002. PubMed Reference Abstract OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical outcomes of patients with pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain (PRLP) treated according […]

Prevalence of and Screening for Serious Spinal Pathology in Patients Presenting to Primary Care Settings With Acute Low Back Pain

ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM Vol. 60, No. 10, October 2009, pp 3072–3080 Nicholas Henschke Objective. To determine the prevalence of serious pathology in patients presenting to primary care settings with acute low back pain, and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of recommended “red flag” screening questions. Methods. An inception cohort of 1,172 consecutive patients receiving primary […]

Implications for Physical Activity in the Population With Low Back Pain

William J. Hanney, PT, DPT, ATC, CSCS, Morey J. Kolber, PT, PhD, OCS, Cert MDT, CSCS, Kristina S. Beekhuizen, PT, PhD, NCS, CSCS Am J Lifestyle Med. 2009;3(1):63-70. ABSTRACT AND INTRODUCTION Abstract Low back pain is considered the most prevalent pain complaint affecting the general population, with a reported lifetime prevalence of up to 75%. […]

Primary Care Physicians are Front Line Defense in Diagnosing Serious Illness in Patients with Acute Lower Back Pain

“Red Flag” Clinical Features Aid PCPs in Screening Patients for Serious Diseases Arthritis & Rheumatism A study by researchers at The George Institute for International Health in Australia found that it is rare for patients presenting to PCPs with acute lower back pain to have previously undiagnosed serious diseases. The most common serious disease cause […]

Obstetric Physicians and Surgeons Encouraged to Consider SMT as a Treatment Option For Back Pain During Pregnancy

Manipulative therapy for pregnancy and related conditions: a systematic review. Khorsan R1, Hawk C, Lisi AJ, Kizhakkeveettil A. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2009 Jun;64(6):416-27. doi: 10.1097/OGX.0b013e31819f9ddf. Abstract OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review is to evaluate the evidence on the effects of Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT) on back pain and other related symptoms during pregnancy. DATA […]

Efficacy and safety of comfrey root extract ointment in the treatment of acute upper or lower back pain

Results of a double-blind, randomised, placebo controlled, multicentre trial B M Giannetti Br J Sports Med doi:10.1136/bjsm.2009.058677 Published Online First 21 May 2009 Journal Reference Abstract Objective The objective was to show the superiority of comfrey root extract ointment to placebo ointment in patients with acute upper or lower back pain. Design The study was […]

Spinal mechanical load as a risk factor for low back pain: a systematic review of prospective cohort studies

Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009 Apr 15;34(8):E281-93. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e318195b257. Bakker EW1, Verhagen AP, van Trijffel E, Lucas C, Koes BW. Abstract STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. OBJECTIVE: To review and critically evaluate the past literature for spinal mechanical load as risk factor for low back pain (LBP). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: LBP is a costly health […]

Exercise Prescription for Chronic Back or Neck Pain: Who Prescribes It? Who Gets It? What Is Prescribed?

Arthritis Care Research News Alerts. 2009;61(2):192-200. Exercise is commonly used to improve physical function, decrease symptoms and minimize disability caused by chronic low back or neck pain. Numerous randomized trials and clinical practice guidelines have supported this practice, and studies suggest that individually tailored, supervised exercise programs are associated with the best outcomes. Nevertheless, there […]

The Twin Spine Study: Contributions to a changing view of disc degeneration

The Spine Journal Volume 9, Issue 1, January 2009, Pages 47-59 Michele C. Battié PhD Abstract Background context Disc degeneration was commonly viewed over much of the last century as a result of aging and “wear and tear” from mechanical insults and injuries. Thus, prevention strategies and research in lumbar degenerative changes and associated clinical […]

SMT is unlikely to result in relevant early pain reduction in patients with acute low back pain

A randomised controlled trial of spinal manipulative therapy in acute low back pain P Jüni Ann Rheum Dis 2009;68:1420-1427 doi:10.1136/ard.2008.093757 Published Online First 5 September 2008 Journal Reference Abstract Objective: To determine whether treatment with spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) administered in addition to standard care is associated with clinically relevant early reductions in pain and […]

Low level laser therapy for low-back pain – Cochrane Review

Published:  16 April 2008 Authors:  Yousefi-Nooraie R, Schonstein E, Heidari K, Rashidian A, Pennick V, Akbari-Kamrani M, Irani S, Shakiba B, Mortaz Hejri S, Jonaidi A-R, Mortaz-Hedjri S Sixty to eighty per cent of people suffer from back pain at some time in their lives. Of those who develop acute low-back pain (LBP), up to […]

Evidence-Informed Management of Chronic Low Back Pain – The Spine Journal – Full Text

THE SPINE Journal Table of contents Volume 8, Number 1 January/February 2008 Full Text Journal INTRODUCTION A supermarket approach to the evidence-informed management of chronic low back pain …………………………….1 Scott Haldeman, DC, MD, PhD, FRCP(C), Simon Dagenais, DC, PhD A systematic review of low back pain cost of illness studies in the United States and […]

NSAIDs and Manipulation Ineffective for Acute Low Back Pain

Best Evidence Review Assessment of Diclofenac or Spinal Manipulative Therapy, or Both, in Addition to Recommended First-line Treatment for Acute Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial Hancock MJ, Maher GC, Latimer J, et al Lancet. 2007;370:1638-1643 Full Story PubMed Reference Journal Reference Abstract Previous recommendations have noted that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and spinal […]

Diagnosis and Treatment of Low Back Pain: A Joint Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society

Roger Chou, MD Ann Intern Med. 2007;147(7):478-491. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-147-7-200710020-00006 2 October 2007, Vol 147, No. 7 Recommendation 1: Clinicians should conduct a focused history and physical examination to help place patients with low back pain into 1 of 3 broad categories: nonspecific low back pain, back pain potentially associated with radiculopathy or spinal stenosis, or back […]

Nonpharmacologic therapies for acute and chronic low back pain

A review of the evidence for an American Pain Society/American College of Physicians clinical practice guideline Chou R, Huffman LH; American Pain Society; American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2007 Oct 2;147(7):492-504 PubMed Reference Abstract BACKGROUND: Many nonpharmacologic therapies are available for treatment of low back pain. PURPOSE: To assess benefits and harms of […]

The biochemical origin of pain: The origin of all pain is inflammation and the inflammatory response

The biochemical origin of pain: The origin of all pain is inflammation and the inflammatory response. Part 2 of 3 – Inflammatory profile of pain syndromes Sota Omoigui Division of Inflammation and Pain Research, L.A Pain Clinic, 4019 W. Rosecrans Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90250, United States Published Online: August 29, 2007 Summary Every pain […]

In chronic low back pain, low level laser therapy combined with exercise is more beneficial than exercise alone in the long term

Australian Journal of Physiotherapy Volume 53, Issue 3, 2007, Pages 155–160 In chronic low back pain, low level laser therapy combined with exercise is more beneficial than exercise alone in the long term: a randomised trial Gholamreza Esmaeeli Djavid Question Is low level laser therapy an effective adjuvant intervention for chronic low back pain? Design […]

Observations on the natural history of massive lumbar disc herniation

J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2007 Jun;89(6):782-4. Cribb GL Abstract We have treated 15 patients with massive lumbar disc herniations non-operatively. Repeat MR scanning after a mean 24 months (5 to 56) showed a dramatic resolution of the herniation in 14 patients. No patient developed a cauda equina syndrome. We suggest that this condition may […]

Comparison of postural control in unilateral stance between healthy controls and lumbar discectomy patients with and without pain

Eur Spine J. 2006 Apr;15(4):423-32. Epub 2005 Aug 18. Comparison of postural control in unilateral stance between healthy controls and lumbar discectomy patients with and without pain. Bouche K1, Stevens V, Cambier D, Caemaert J, Danneels L. Abstract MAIN PROBLEM: Previous studies have demonstrated that sciatica patients have poorer postural control than healthy controls and […]

Cost-effectiveness of medical and chiropractic care for acute and chronic low back pain

J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2005 Oct;28(8):555-63. Haas M, Sharma R, Stano M. Abstract OBJECTIVES: To identify relative provider costs, clinical outcomes, and patient satisfaction for the treatment of low back pain (LBP). METHODS: This was a practice-based, nonrandomized, comparative study of patients self-referring to 60 doctors of chiropractic and 111 medical doctors in 51 chiropractic […]