Potential Risk Factors of Persistent Low Back Pain Developing from Mild Low Back Pain in Urban Japanese Workers

Study Design

Two-year, prospective cohort data from the Japan epidemiological research of occupation-related back pain study in urban settings were used for this analysis.

Objective

To examine the association between aggravated low back pain and psychosocial factors among Japanese workers with mild low back pain.

Summary of Background Data

Although psychosocial factors are strongly indicated as yellow flags of low back pain (LBP) leading to disability, the association between aggravated LBP and psychosocial factors has not been well assessed in Japanese workers.

Methods

At baseline, 5,310 participants responded to a self-administered questionnaire including questions about individual characteristics, ergonomic work demands, and work-related psychosocial factors (response rate: 86.5%), with 3,811 respondents completing the 1-year follow-up questionnaire. The target outcome was aggravation of mild LBP into persistent LBP during the follow-up period. Incidence was calculated for the participants with mild LBP during the past year at baseline. Logistic regression was used to explore risk factors associated with persistent LBP.

Results

Of 1,675 participants who had mild LBP during the preceding year, 43 (2.6%) developed persistent LBP during the follow-up year. Multivariate analyses adjusted for individual factors and an ergonomic factor found statistically significant or almost significant associations of the following psychosocial factors with persistent LBP: interpersonal stress at work [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.96 and 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.00–3.82], job satisfaction (OR: 2.34, 95%CI: 1.21–4.54), depression (OR: 1.92, 95%CI: 1.00–3.69), somatic symptoms (OR: 2.78, 95%CI: 1.44–5.40), support from supervisors (OR: 2.01, 95%CI: 1.05–3.85), previous sick-leave due to LBP (OR: 1.94, 95%CI: 0.98–3.86) and family history of LBP with disability (OR: 1.98, 95%CI: 1.04–3.78).

Conclusions

Psychosocial factors are important risk factors for persistent LBP in urban Japanese workers. It may be necessary to take psychosocial factors into account, along with physical work demands, to reduce LBP related disability.     

Low Back Pain in Men Receiving Workmen's Compensation

In Ontario, only about 10% of compensation patients with low back pain are disabled more than six weeks and hence tend to have chronic complaints. Six hundred and twenty-three such patients were studied to determine the distribution of diagnoses and to test the effectiveness of various programs of conservative therapy.Two hundred and thirteen patients were assigned in rotation to one of four treatments. The results were inconclusive. In 70% of these, the pain was due to intervertebral disc degeneration with added trauma.Two hundred and sixteen patients were assigned randomly to a treatment involving mild exercise, or one with vigorous exercise. Neither was found to be superior. In 76% of these, the pain was due to disc degeneration with added trauma.Using 194 patients, the results of treatment in the Compensation Board Rehabilitation Centre were compared with those obtained by treatment at home. Satisfactory improvement was achieved in 15 of 95 treated at home, and in 42 of 99 in the Centre. The failure of treatment in six of each 10 cases indicates that present-day methods of management of such patients are unsatisfactory.     

椎间盘源性腰痛的相关基础研究进展

椎间盘源性下腰痛是在骨科是常见的疾病,它以发病时间早、发病率高、容易复发为特点,让患者的生存质量和劳动能力受到极大地影响。上个世纪,椎间盘退变被认为是盘源性下腰痛先决条件。近年来,国内外许多研究人员对病变椎间盘的前后的组织学变化、神经侵润、炎性介质、神经递质等给予了深入研究,逐步认识到在没有发现椎间盘突出的情况下发生于下腰痛,这可能是椎间盘内部的病变而引起的,即通常所说的盘源性下腰痛(discogentic low back pain)。虽然说椎间盘退变可以诱发下腰痛,但是椎间盘退变本身没有任何依据可以通过来临床干预,至少目前无有效的干预措施。但是,缓解疼痛症状则是研究和临床治疗的重点。研究发现,椎间盘内传递痛觉的神经纤维的存在是发生椎间盘源性下腰痛的首要条件,椎间盘内的破裂,以及神经的长入,在加上炎性介质及生物力学的原因,导致了盘源性下腰痛。但目前关于椎间盘内神经长入机制的研究较少,其机制较复杂,我们对近年来椎间盘内基础研究做一综述。     

Acupuncture or Low Frequency Infrared Treatment for Low Back Pain in Chinese Patients: A Discrete Choice Experiment

Acupuncture is a popular but controversial treatment option for low back pain. In China, it is practised as traditional Chinese medicine; other treatment strategies for low back pain are commonly practised as Western medicine. Research on patient preference for low back-pain treatment options has been mainly conducted in Western countries and is limited to a willingness-to-pay approach. A stated-preference, discrete choice experiment was conducted to determine Chinese patient preferences and trade-offs for acupuncture and low frequency infrared treatment in low back pain from September 2011 to August 2012 after approval from the Department of Scientific Research in the study settings. Eight-six adult outpatients who visited the ‘traditional medicine department’ at a traditional Chinese medicine hospital and the ‘rehabilitation department’ at a Western medicine hospital in Guangdong Province of China for chronic low back pain during study period participated in an interview survey. A questionnaire containing 10 scenarios (5 attributes in each scenario) was used to ask participants'' preference for acupuncture, low frequency infrared treatment or neither option. Validated responses were analysed using a nested-logit model. The decision on whether to receive a therapy was not associated with the expected utility of receiving therapy, female gender and higher out-of-pocket payment significantly decreased chance to receive treatments. Of the utility of receiving either acupuncture or low frequency infrared treatment, the treatment sensation was the most important attribute as an indicator of treatment efficacy, followed by the maximum efficacy, maintenance duration and onset of efficacy, and the out-of-pocket payment. The willingness-to-pay for acupuncture and low frequency infrared treatment were about $618.6 and $592.4 USD per course respectively, demonstrated patients'' demand of pain management. The treatment sensation was regarded as an indicator of treatment efficacy and the most important attribute for choosing acupuncture or low frequency infrared treatment. The high willingness-to-pay demonstrated patients'' demand of pain management. However, there may be other factors influencing patients'' preference to receive treatments.     

Decompressive Laminectomy for Low Back and Sciatic Pain

A proportion of patients with lumbar disc syndromes have little in the way of disc protrusion, but have spinal canals, either congenitally narrow, or else narrowed by degenerative changes. These patients require myelography for their assessment and decompression by complete laminectomy for their treatment, as opposed to the more usual practice of discectomy via partial laminectomy and/or fusion. Five such cases with myelographic findings are presented.     

Ligamentum Flavum Hypertrophy in Asymptomatic and Chronic Low Back Pain Subjects

Purpose

To examine ligamentum flavum thickness using magnetic resonance (MR) images to evaluate its association with low back pain symptoms, age, gender, lumbar level, and disc characteristics.

Materials and Methods

Sixty-three individuals were part of this IRB-approved study: twenty-seven with chronic low back pain, and thirty-six as asymptomatic. All patients underwent MR imaging and computed tomography (CT) of the lumbar spine. The MR images at the mid-disc level were captured and enlarged 800% using a bilinear interpolation size conversion algorithm that allowed for enhanced image quality. Ligamentum flavum thickness was assessed using bilateral medial and lateral measurements. Disc height at each level was measured by the least-distance measurement method in three-dimensional models created by CT images taken of the same subject. Analysis of variance and t-tests were carried out to evaluate the relationship between ligamentum flavum thickness and patient variables.

Results

Ligamentum flavum thickness was found to significantly increase with older age, lower lumbar level, and chronic low back pain (p < 0.03). No difference in ligamentum flavum thickness was observed between right and left sided measurements, or between male and female subjects. Disc height and both ligamentum flavum thickness measurements showed low to moderate correlations that reached significance (p < 0.01). Additionally, a moderate and significant correlation between disc degeneration grade and ligamentum flavum thickness does exist (p <0.001).

Conclusion

By measuring ligamentum flavum thickness on MR images at two different sites and comparing degrees of disc degeneration, we found that ligamentum flavum thickness may be closely related to the pathogenesis of pain processes in the spine.     

Fear of Movement Is Related to Trunk Stiffness in Low Back Pain

Background

Psychological features have been related to trunk muscle activation patterns in low back pain (LBP). We hypothesised higher pain-related fear would relate to changes in trunk mechanical properties, such as higher trunk stiffness.

Objectives

To evaluate the relationship between trunk mechanical properties and psychological features in people with recurrent LBP.

Methods

The relationship between pain-related fear (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, TSK; Photograph Series of Daily Activities, PHODA-SeV; Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, FABQ; Pain Catastrophizing Scale, PCS) and trunk mechanical properties (estimated from the response of the trunk to a sudden sagittal plane forwards or backwards perturbation by unpredictable release of a load) was explored in a case-controlled study of 14 LBP participants. Regression analysis (r ²) tested the linear relationships between pain-related fear and trunk mechanical properties (trunk stiffness and damping). Mechanical properties were also compared with t-tests between groups based on stratification according to high/low scores based on median values for each psychological measure.

Results

Fear of movement (TSK) was positively associated with trunk stiffness (but not damping) in response to a forward perturbation (r² = 0.33, P = 0.03), but not backward perturbation (r² = 0.22, P = 0.09). Other pain-related fear constructs (PHODA-SeV, FABQ, PCS) were not associated with trunk stiffness or damping. Trunk stiffness was greater for individuals with high kinesiophobia (TSK) for forward (P = 0.03) perturbations, and greater with forward perturbation for those with high fear avoidance scores (FABQ-W, P = 0.01).

Conclusions

Fear of movement is positively (but weakly) associated with trunk stiffness. This provides preliminary support an interaction between biological and psychological features of LBP, suggesting this condition may be best understood if these domains are not considered in isolation.     

The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Treatment for Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives

To assess whether cognitive behavioural (CB) approaches improve disability, pain, quality of life and/or work disability for patients with low back pain (LBP) of any duration and of any age.

Methods

Nine databases were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) from inception to November 2014. Two independent reviewers rated trial quality and extracted trial data. Standardised mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for individual trials. Pooled effect sizes were calculated using a random-effects model for two contrasts: CB versus no treatment (including wait-list and usual care (WL/UC)), and CB versus other guideline-based active treatment (GAT).

Results

The review included 23 studies with a total of 3359 participants. Of these, the majority studied patients with persistent LBP (>6 weeks; n=20). At long term follow-up, the pooled SMD for the WL/UC comparison was -0.19 (-0.38, 0.01) for disability, and -0.23 (-0.43, -0.04) for pain, in favour of CB. For the GAT comparison, at long term the pooled SMD was -0.83 (-1.46, -0.19) for disability and -0.48 (-0.93, -0.04) for pain, in favour of CB. While trials varied considerably in methodological quality, and in intervention factors such as provider, mode of delivery, dose, duration, and pragmatism, there were several examples of lower intensity, low cost interventions that were effective.

Conclusion

CB interventions yield long-term improvements in pain, disability and quality of life in comparison to no treatment and other guideline-based active treatments for patients with LBP of any duration and of any age.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO protocol registration number: CRD42014010536.     

Psychometric Properties of the Japanese Version of the STarT Back Tool in Patients with Low Back Pain

Background and Objective

The STarT Back Tool uses prognostic indicators to classify patients with low back pain into three risk groups to guide early secondary prevention in primary care. The present study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the tool (STarT-J).

Methods

An online survey was conducted among Japanese patients with low back pain aged 20–64 years. Reliability was assessed by examining the internal consistency of the overall and psychosocial subscales using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Spearman’s correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the concurrent validity between the STarT-J total score/psychosocial subscore and standard reference questionnaires. Discriminant validity was evaluated by calculating the area under the curves (AUCs) for the total and psychosocial subscale scores against standard reference cases. Known-groups validity was assessed by examining the relationship between low back pain-related disability and STarT-J scores.

Results

The analysis included data for 2000 Japanese patients with low back pain; the mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 47.7 (9.3) years, and 54.1% were male. The mean (SD) STarT-J score was 2.2 (2.1). The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.75 for the overall scale and 0.66 for the psychosocial subscale. Spearman’s correlation coefficients ranged from 0.30 to 0.59, demonstrating moderate to strong concurrent validity. The AUCs for the total score ranged from 0.65 to 0.83, mostly demonstrating acceptable discriminative ability. For known-groups validity, participants with more somatic symptoms had higher total scores. Those in higher STarT-J risk groups had experienced more low back pain-related absences.

Conclusions

The overall STarT-J scale was internally consistent and had acceptable concurrent, discriminant, and known-groups validity. The STarT-J can be used with Japanese patients with low back pain.     

Prognosis in Acute Occupational Low Back Pain: Methodologic and Practical Considerations

Work-related or occupational low back pain (OLBP) is the leading cause of disability due to work-related conditions. The clinical course of this disorder is highly variable. Accurate prediction of disability outcomes in acute OLBP can lead to better selection of those likely to benefit from intensive interventions, identification of specific issues for intervention, and more efficient patient selection in clinical trials. The basis for disability prognostication has been developed through studies of outcomes in acute OLBP. These include investigations based on administrative data, workplace studies, and clinical studies in physicians' offices or workplaces. Each study design has inherent strengths and limitations that affect the accuracy of the resulting predictive models. Practical concerns for use of prognostic models in clinical settings include generalizability of results, feasibility of data collection and interpretation, acceptability to patients, cost, and linking prognosis to effective interventions. Ethical concerns include informed consent, confidentiality issues and inappropriate negative labeling. An informed choice of prognostic model and associated measures based on specific goals is needed to develop an appropriate application for a particular clinical or research situation. Future research may lead to greater use of these models, improving outcomes for workers with OLBP.     

General Practitioners Views of Implementing a Stratified Treatment Approach for Low Back Pain in Germany: A Qualitative Study

Background and Objective

The STarT Back stratified primary care approach has demonstrated clinical and cost effectiveness in the UK, and is commonly used by General Practitioners (GPs). However, it remains unknown how this approach could be implemented into the German healthcare system. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the views and perceptions of German GPs in respect to using a stratified primary care for low back pain (LBP).

Methods

A 90-minute think-tank workshop was conducted with 14 male and five female GPs, during which the STarT-Back-Screening-Tool (SBST) and related research evidence was presented. This was followed by two focus groups, based on a semi-structured interview guideline to identify potential implementation barriers and opportunities. Discussions were audiotaped, transcribed and coded using a content analysis approach.

Results

For the three deductively developed main themes, 15 subthemes emerged: (1) application of the SBST, with the following subthemes: which health profession should administer it, patients known to the GP practice, the reason for the GP consultation, scoring the tool, the tool format, and the anticipated impact on GP practice; (2) psychologically informed physiotherapy, with subthemes including: provision by a physiotherapist, anticipated impact, the skills of physiotherapists, management of patients with severe psychosocial problems, referral and remuneration; (3) the management of low-risk patients, with subthemes including: concern about the appropriate advising health professional, information and media, length of consultation, and local exercise venues.

Conclusions

The attitudes of GPs towards stratified primary care for LBP indicated positive support for pilot-testing in Germany. However, there were mixed reactions to the ability of German physiotherapists to manage high-risk patients and handle their complex clinical needs. GPs also mentioned practical difficulties in providing extended advice to low-risk patients, which nevertheless could be addressed by involvement of specifically trained medical assistants.     

普拉提运动对慢性下腰痛患者的疼痛和腰椎功能的影响

为了揭示普拉提运动对慢性下腰痛患者的疼痛和腰椎功能的影响,本研究选择2017年1月至2018年6月在医院确诊并接受治疗的64例慢性下腰痛患者作为研究对象,根据运动疗法分为对照组(悬吊训练法)和观察组(悬吊训练法结合普拉提运动),采用视觉模拟评分(VAS)评价患者的疼痛程度,采用Oswestry功能障碍指数(ODI)评价患者的腰椎功能障碍情况,采用运动情境动机量表(SSIMS)评价患者的运动参与动机。研究显示,治疗后观察组的VAS评分显著低于对照组(p=0.043)。观察组治疗后的ODI总评分显著低于对照组(p=0.026),观察组患者治疗后的疼痛、生活自理、提物、行走和站立5个维度评分显著低于对照组(p<0.05)。SSIMS量表的4个维度中,鉴别原则得分最高,其次为内部动机,然后是外部调节,最后为缺乏动机。本研究结果提示,普拉提运动可显著降低下腰痛患者的疼痛程度,并改善腰椎功能。此外,普拉提运动具有较好的患者认可度和喜爱度,值得在临床和运动康复训练中应用。     

Assessing Sleep Disturbance in Low Back Pain: The Validity of Portable Instruments

Although portable instruments have been used in the assessment of sleep disturbance for patients with low back pain (LBP), the accuracy of the instruments in detecting sleep/wake episodes for this population is unknown. This study investigated the criterion validity of two portable instruments (Armband and Actiwatch) for assessing sleep disturbance in patients with LBP. 50 patients with LBP performed simultaneous overnight sleep recordings in a university sleep laboratory. All 50 participants were assessed by Polysomnography (PSG) and the Armband and a subgroup of 33 participants wore an Actiwatch. Criterion validity was determined by calculating epoch-by-epoch agreement, sensitivity, specificity and prevalence and bias- adjusted kappa (PABAK) for sleep versus wake between each instrument and PSG. The relationship between PSG and the two instruments was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC 2, 1). The study participants showed symptoms of sub-threshold insomnia (mean ISI = 13.2, 95% CI = 6.36) and poor sleep quality (mean PSQI = 9.20, 95% CI = 4.27). Observed agreement with PSG was 85% and 88% for the Armband and Actiwatch. Sensitivity was 0.90 for both instruments and specificity was 0.54 and 0.67 and PABAK of 0.69 and 0.77 for the Armband and Actiwatch respectively. The ICC (95%CI) was 0.76 (0.61 to 0.86) and 0.80 (0.46 to 0.92) for total sleep time, 0.52 (0.29 to 0.70) and 0.55 (0.14 to 0.77) for sleep efficiency, 0.64 (0.45 to 0.78) and 0.52 (0.23 to 0.73) for wake after sleep onset and 0.13 (−0.15 to 0.39) and 0.33 (−0.05 to 0.63) for sleep onset latency, for the Armband and Actiwatch, respectively. The findings showed that both instruments have varied criterion validity across the sleep parameters from excellent validity for measures of total sleep time, good validity for measures of sleep efficiency and wake after onset to poor validity for sleep onset latency.