Lumbar Spine & Low Back Pain

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 […]

Physical inactivity is associated with narrower lumbar intervertebral discs, high fat content of paraspinal muscles and low back pain and disability

Arthritis Res Ther. 2015; 17(1): 114. Published online 2015 May 7. doi: 10.1186/s13075-015-0629-y PMCID: PMC4422596 Andrew J Teichtahl, Donna M Urquhart, Yuanyuan Wang, Anita E Wluka, Richard O’Sullivan, Graeme Jones, and Flavia M . Abstract Introduction Although physical inactivity has been associated with numerous chronic musculoskeletal complaints, few studies have examined its associations with spinal […]

Role of stress and smoking in back pain in women

Role of Stress and Smoking as Modifiable Risk Factors for Non-persistent and Persistent Back Pain in Women. Schmelzer, Amy C. DO, MS, MPH; Salt, Elizabeth PhD, APRN; Wiggins, Amanda PhD; Crofford, Leslie J. MD; Bush, Heather PhD; Mannino, David M. MD The Clinical Journal of Pain Post Acceptance: April 15, 2015 Abstract Objective: The purpose […]

The Clinical Course of Pain and Function in Older Adults With a New Primary Care Visit for Back Pain

Sean D. Rundell, DPT, PhD, Karen J. Sherman, PhD, MPH, Patrick J. Heagerty, PhD, Charles N. Mock, MD, PhD, MPH, Jeffrey G. Jarvik, MD, MPHh Disclosures J Am Geriatr Soc. 2015;63(3):524-530. ABSTRACT AND INTRODUCTION Abstract Objectives To report the clinical course of older adults presenting for a new primary care visit for back pain, no healthcare visit […]

MRI-Detected Bone Marrow Changes Linked to Low Back Pain

5/2/15 Action Points   Note that this relatively small study found that specific changes in lumbar bone marrow were associated with low back pain. Be aware that, after adjustment, changes in these marrow findings were not associated with changes in pain, but were associated with changes in disability. Vertebral subchondral bone marrow changes visible on […]

Runners with CLBP exhibit weak quads and activation in lumbar multifidus

Low Back And Lower Limb Muscle Performance In Male And Female Recreational Runners With Chronic Low Back Pain Authors: Congcong Cai, MSc J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, Epub 21 Apr 2015. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.5460 Study Design Controlled Laboratory Study; Cross-sectional. Objective To compare lumbar extensor muscle fatigability, lumbar muscle activation, and lower limb strength between male and […]

The relationship between obesity, low back pain, and lumbar disc degeneration when genetics and the environment are considered

The relationship between obesity, low back pain, and lumbar disc degeneration when genetics and the environment are considered: a systematic review of twin studies Amabile B. Dario, MSc The Spine Journal Volume 15, Issue 5, 1 May 2015, Pages 1106–1117 Abstract Background context The relationships between obesity and low back pain (LBP) and lumbar disc […]

Older Adults with Lumbar Osteoarthritis with Greater Abdominal Strength Have a Better Quality of Life

Abdominal muscle strength is related to the quality of life among older adults with lumbar osteoarthritis Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies April 2015Volume 19, Issue 2, Pages 273–277 Suenimeire Vieira, PT Summary The aim of the present study was to determine the association between abdominal muscle strength and quality of life among older adults […]

Effects of core stability exercises on multifidus muscles in healthy women and women with chronic low-back pain

J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2015 Apr 16. [Epub ahead of print] Effects of core stability exercises on multifidus muscles in healthy women and women with chronic low-back pain. Kliziene I, Sipaviciene S, Klizas S, Imbrasiene D. Abstract BACKGROUND: Chronic low-back pain (LBP) may be related to decreased lumbar multifidus muscle cross-sectional area (CSA). OBJECTIVE: In […]

Treating Low Back Pain: More Evidence That Less Is Better

April 15, 2015 | Pain By Steven A. King, MD, MS  Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common reasons patients see primary care physicians. Patients with LBP frequently believe that there is an identifiable cause of the pain that needs to be discovered and repaired. They may feel they are receiving second-rate […]

PT and Surgery Equally Effective for Spinal Stenosis

~ But surgery remains a popular option among patients. 04.06.2015 Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis who underwent surgical decompression showed similar improvements in physical function after 2 years compared with those who participated in physical therapy, researchers reported. The study is the first to compare surgery and a standardized physical therapy program directly, wrote Anthony […]

Diffusion tensor imaging with quantitative evaluation and fiber tractography of lumbar nerve roots in sciatica

Eur J Radiol. 2015 Apr; 84(4):690-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2015.01.006. Epub 2015 Jan 17. Yin Shi PMID: 25631881 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2015.01.006 Abstract Objective: To quantitatively evaluate nerve roots by measuring fractional anisotropy (FA) values in healthy volunteers and sciatica patients, visualize nerve roots by tractography, and compare the diagnostic efficacy between conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and DTI. […]

Clinical examination findings as prognostic factors in low back pain – Full Text

Clinical examination findings as prognostic factors in low back pain: a systematic review of the literature Lisbeth Hartvigsen Chiropractic & Manual Therapies 2015, 23:13 doi:10.1186/s12998-015-0054-y Abstract Background There is a strong tradition of performing a clinical examination of low back pain (LBP) patients and this is generally recommended in guidelines. However, establishing a pathoanatomic diagnosis […]