Efficacy and tolerability of tapentadol for the treatment of chronic low back pain in elderly patients

There is limited research on the changes of biomechanical characteristics of the lumbar extensor myofascia in elderly patients with chronic low back pain. This study aimed to compare the biomechanical properties of the lumbar extensor myofascia in elderly patients with chronic low back pain and healthy people when resting and to analyze the relationship between the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, visual analog scale (VAS) score, Cobb angle, and disease course and the biomechanical characteristics of the lumbar extensor myofascia. This case-control study included 40 elderly patients with chronic low back pain and 40 healthy volunteers. MyotonPRO was used to measure the biomechanical properties of the bilateral lumbar extensor myofascia (at L3/L4 level) in all participants, and the reliability of the MyotonPRO test was measured. Cobb angle was measured from lumbar computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging data. JOA and VAS scores were used to evaluate lumbar function and pain. We found that muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity of the left and right lumbar extensor myofascia in patients with chronic low back pain were very reliable among different operators. The average lumbar extensor muscle tone and stiffness were significantly higher in patients with chronic low back pain than those in healthy controls. The average elasticity of the lumbar extensor myofascia of patients with chronic low back pain was significantly lower than that of the healthy controls. The JOA score was negatively correlated, while the VAS score was positively correlated with the mean values of tone, stiffness, and elasticity of the bilateral lumbar extensor myofascia (logarithmic decrement). Disease course had no significant correlation with muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity of the lumbar extensor myofascia. No significant correlation was found between Cobb angle and muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity of the lumbar extensor myofascia in either group.

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Can physical rehabilitation in elderly patients with chronic low back pain have clinical outcomes similar to younger patients?

Physiotherapy ◽

10.1016/j.physio.2020.03.129 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 107 ◽

pp. e92-e93

Author(s):

U. Solanki ◽

S. Jain ◽

S. Linjhara ◽

G. Shetty

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Elderly Patients ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Chronic Low Back Pain ◽

Physical Rehabilitation ◽

Low Back ◽

Younger Patients

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Factors Influencing Health Behavior in Elderly Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

Journal of Korean Gerontological Nursing ◽

10.17079/jkgn.2015.17.1.20 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 20-28

Author(s):

Sukhee Park

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Health Behavior ◽

Elderly Patients ◽

Chronic Low Back Pain ◽

Low Back ◽

Factors Influencing

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Effects of Trigger Point Acupuncture on Chronic Low Back Pain in Elderly Patients – a Sham-Controlled Randomised Trial

Acupuncture in Medicine ◽

10.1136/aim.24.1.5 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 5-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

Kazunori Itoh ◽

Yasukazu Katsumi ◽

Satoko Hirota ◽

Hiroshi Kitakoji

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Elderly Patients ◽

Chronic Low Back Pain ◽

Trigger Point ◽

Treatment Phase ◽

Sham Acupuncture ◽

Control Group ◽

Low Back ◽

Group A

Introduction There is some evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture, but it remains unclear whether trigger point acupuncture is effective. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of trigger point acupuncture on pain and quality of life in chronic low back pain patients compared with sham acupuncture. Methods Twenty-six consecutive out-patients (17 women, 9 men; age range: 65–91 years) from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Meiji University of Oriental Medicine, with non-radiating low back pain for at least six months and normal neurological examination, were randomised to two groups. Each group received one phase of trigger point acupuncture and one of sham acupuncture with a three week washout period between them, over 12 weeks. Group A (n=13) received trigger point acupuncture in the first phase and sham acupuncture in the second. Group B (n=13) received the same interventions in the reverse order. Outcome measures were pain intensity (visual analogue scale, VAS) and Roland Morris Questionnaire. Results Nineteen patients were included in the analysis. At the end of the first treatment phase, group A receiving trigger point acupuncture scored significantly lower VAS (P<0.001) and Roland Morris Questionnaire scores (P<0.01) than the sham control group. There were significant within-group reductions in pain in both groups during the trigger point acupuncture phase but not in the sham treatment phase. However, the beneficial effects were not sustained. Conclusion These results suggest that trigger point acupuncture may have greater short term effects on low back pain in elderly patients than sham acupuncture.

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