The Concavity Index

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 953-957
Author(s):  
Menekse Salar ◽  
Richard F. Sesek ◽  
Mark C. Schall
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Body Height ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Sagittal Profile ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Physical Risk Factors ◽  
Mri Scans ◽  
And Gender

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders facing the working world. Most LBP studies focus on exposure to physical risk factors in the workplace such as lifting, pushing, pulling and awkward postures. Unfortunately, many of these studies do not consider personal risk factors. Several studies have observed that personal characteristics ssuch as age and gender are predictive of LBP. However, studies that focus on MRI characteristics of the disc structure and the relationship between lumbar discs and personal characteristics are very rare. For this study, T2-weighted MRI scans were obtained from 50 subjects (25 females & 25 males) whose age ranged from 20-40 years (mean 31.12 years, SD ± 5.4) without any self-reported chronic episodes of low back pain. The MRI scans contain the sagittal profile of lumbar endplates (L2-S1). Each examiner measured the height and the concavity levels of the lumbar discs. These measures were used to calculate a Concavity Index (CI; concavity level divided by vertebral body height). CIs were compared to Pfirrmann IVD grading scores to evaluate their agreement and compare their respective inter-observer reliabilities. A higher CI is hypothesized to be indicative of spinal degradation and subsequent low back pain. Gender differences were observed for CIs at all levels, particularly for the L5-S1. A linear relationship between average CI and corresponding Pfirrmann classification was observed. While overall agreement among Pfirrmaann raters was high, 10% of ratings disagreed by two or more categories. CIs had an average coefficient of variation of just 0.95% across all participants and lumbar regions. This work presents an alternative method for quantifying intervertebral disc degeneration that appears to have advantages over the traditional Pfirrmann grading scale.

Short-Term Physical Risk Factors for New Episodes of Low Back Pain

Spine ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 24 (15) ◽  
pp. 1556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter R. Croft ◽  
Ann C. Papageorgiou ◽  
Elaine Thomas ◽  
Gary J. Macfarlane ◽  
Alan J. Silman
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Physical Risk ◽  
Physical Risk Factors

scholarly journals Psychosocial and physical risk factors associated with low back pain: a 24 year follow up among women and men in a broad range of occupations

1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. O. Thorbjornsson ◽  
L. Alfredsson ◽  
K. Fredriksson ◽  
M. Koster ◽  
H. Michelsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Physical Risk ◽  
Physical Risk Factors

scholarly journals Attitudes, knowledge and treatment of low back pain amongst nurses in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liezel Cilliers ◽  
Soraya Maart
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Exercise Programme ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Treatment Principles ◽  
Physical Risk Factors

Background: One of the high-risk professions for the development of musculoskeletal problems is nursing. Studies have reported that there is a high prevalence of low back pain (LBP) amongst South African nurses, but very little is known regarding the prevention and self-treatment principles for LBP in this group.Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about the prevention and self-treatment principles for LBP amongst nursing staff in Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, Eastern Cape.Methods: The study population consisted of all qualified nurses employed at the hospital. A cross-sectional survey with a purposive convenience sampling method was used. A questionnaire was designed using literature from established sources. The questionnaire was distributed manually and data obtained were analysed using EPI-INFO4.Results: The study found that the majority of the participants experienced LBP on a regular basis. The participants could identify the most important physical risk factors associated with the development of LBP, but neglected the psychological risk factors. Action taken after the development of LBP included professional consultations as well as medication and bed rest.The participants identified the different components of a preventative exercise programme but only focused on the physical and not psychological components associated with LBP.Conclusions: LBP is a serious problem amongst the nurses at the hospital, but no proactiveapproach is taken in order to address this problem. Policy guidelines and a comprehensive prevention and treatment programme need to be designed and implemented to address this issue.

scholarly journals Development and Validation of a Job Exposure Matrix for Physical Risk Factors in Low Back Pain

PLoS ONE ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. e48680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svetlana Solovieva ◽  
Irmeli Pehkonen ◽  
Johanna Kausto ◽  
Helena Miranda ◽  
Rahman Shiri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Job Exposure Matrix ◽  
Physical Risk ◽  
Physical Risk Factors ◽  
Development And Validation

scholarly journals The correlation between the sagittal lumbopelvic alignments in standing position and the risk factors influencing low back pain

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pongsthorn Chanplakorn ◽  
Paphon Sa-ngasoongsong ◽  
Siwadol Wongsak ◽  
Patarawan Woratanarat ◽  
Wiwat Wajanavisit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Body Height ◽  
Standing Position ◽  
Low Back ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
History Of ◽  
Obese Male

Low back pain (LBP) is the most common health problem. Many factors have been demonstrated to be fundamental risk factors of LBP such as body mass index (BMI), age and sex. However, so far there have been few studies demonstrating the association between lumbo-pelvic alignment (LPA) and these factors. This present study was aimed to clarify the correlation between the LPA and the risk factors contributing to LBP. Standing lateral Xrays were taken from 100 healthy volunteers (70 males and 30 females) with no history of low back pain before their participation. Average age of subjects was 33.3±6.8 years (rang 21-50). Mean body weight was 59.1±7.9kg (range 40-82), mean body height was 163.6±7.2 cm (range 145-178) and mean BMI was 22.1±2.4 kg/m2 (range 18.0-29.3). The LPA was classified into 3 types according to the recently proposed pelvic orientation guidelines. No direct correlation was found between the pelvic orientation and age or BMI. Each LPA type was associated with sex but not BMI and age (P=0.00, 0.71, and 0.36, respectively). The results from this study demonstrated the differences in LPA between male and female, and also confirmed that the sagittal orientation of the pelvis remained constant in adults. The high prevalence of LPA type 1 in males may reduce the occurrence of LBP in obese male individuals.

scholarly journals A systematic review on quantifiable physical risk factors for non-specific adolescent low back pain

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Potthoff ◽  
Eling D. de Bruin ◽  
Sandra Rosser ◽  
Barry Kim Humphreys ◽  
Brigitte Wirth
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Physical Risk ◽  
Physical Risk Factors

Low Back Pain in Commercial Airline Pilots

2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (12) ◽  
pp. 940-947
Author(s):  
Matthias Albermann ◽  
Maria Lehmann ◽  
Christian Eiche ◽  
Joachim Schmidt ◽  
Johannes Prottengeier
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
German Population ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Airline Pilots ◽  
Acute Low Back Pain ◽  
Commercial Airline ◽  
Negative Effect

BACKGROUND: In their working life, airline pilots are exposed to particular risk factors that promote nonspecific low back pain (LBP). Because of the varying incidence internationally, we evaluated the point prevalences of acute, subacute, and chronic nonspecific LBP, as well as the current prevalences in German airline pilots. Furthermore, we compared the prevalence to the general German population and to European counterparts.METHODS: An anonymous online survey of 698 participating German airline pilots was evaluated. The impairment between groups was analyzed. Prevalences from our data were compared to existing data.RESULTS: The following point prevalences were found: 8.2% acute, 2.4% subacute, 82.7% chronic LBP; 74.1% of all individuals were suffering from current LBP when answered the questionnaire. A total time spent flying greater than 600 h within the last 12 mo was significantly related to acute nonspecific LBP. Individuals with any type of LBP were significantly impaired compared to those unaffected. It was found that German airline pilots suffer more often from current LBP than the general population and have a higher point prevalence of total LBP than their European counterparts.CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation showed a surprisingly high, previously unidentified, prevalence of nonspecific LBP in German airline pilots. Why German airline pilots suffer more often from LBP remains uncertain. The number of flying hours appears to have a negative effect on developing acute low back pain, but causation cannot be concluded. Other risk factors could not be confirmed.Albermann M, Lehmann M, Eiche C, Schmidt J, Prottengeier J. Low back pain in commercial airline pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(12):940947.

Disability and quality of life in patients with low back pain: Focus on sex and gender: A cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Yen-Mou Lu ◽  
Chung-Hwan Chen ◽  
Yi-Jing Lue
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Gender Identity ◽  
Gender Role ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Sex And Gender ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
And Gender

BACKGROUND: Sex and gender affect responses to pain, but little is known about disability and quality of life. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of sex and gender on disability and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with low back pain. METHODS: Ninety-three patients with low back pain were included in this cross-sectional survey study. Disability, HRQOL and gender identity were respectively assessed with the Oswestry Disability Index, Short Form-36 and Bem Sex Role Inventory. The participants were classified into four gender role orientations (masculinity, femininity, androgyny and undifferentiated). One-way analysis of variance was used to analyze both the sex and the gender role orientation. RESULTS: Females had higher disability than males (p< 0.05), but in gender identity, no significant difference was found. Seven domains of HRQOL were lower than the healthy norms. Males experienced greater impacts than females on vitality and mental health (p< 0.05). For gender identity, five domains of HRQOL had significant differences (p< 0.05). Masculinity orientation had the least impact on four domains (p< 0.05), while undifferentiated orientation had the largest impact on all domains. CONCLUSION: Sex and gender effects can be used to analyze disability and HRQOL in patients with low back pain. Females have higher disability, while HRQOL is greatly influenced by different gender role orientations.

scholarly journals The Dutch Multidisciplinary Occupational Health Guideline to Enhance Work Participation Among Low Back Pain and Lumbosacral Radicular Syndrome Patients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. H. Luites ◽  
P. P. F. M. Kuijer ◽  
C. T. J. Hulshof ◽  
R. Kok ◽  
M. W. Langendam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Prognostic Factors ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Work Participation ◽  
Stepped Care ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Lumbosacral Radicular Syndrome ◽  
Care Approach ◽  
Radicular Syndrome

AbstractPurpose Based on current scientific evidence and best practice, the first Dutch multidisciplinary practice guideline for occupational health professionals was developed to stimulate prevention and enhance work participation in patients with low back pain (LBP) and lumbosacral radicular syndrome (LRS). Methods A multidisciplinary working group with health care professionals, a patient representative and researchers developed the recommendations after systematic review of evidence about (1) Risk factors, (2) Prevention, (3) Prognostic factors and (4) Interventions. Certainty of the evidence was rated with GRADE and the Evidence to Decision (EtD) framework was used to formulate recommendations. High or moderate certainty resulted in a recommendation “to advise”, low to very low in a recommendation “to consider”, unless other factors in the framework decided differently. Results An inventory of risk factors should be considered and an assessment of prognostic factors is advised. For prevention, physical exercises and education are advised, besides application of the evidence-based practical guidelines “lifting” and “whole body vibration”. The stepped-care approach to enhance work participation starts with the advice to stay active, facilitated by informing the worker, reducing workload, an action plan and a time-contingent increase of work participation for a defined amount of hours and tasks. If work participation has not improved within 6 weeks, additional treatments should be considered based on the present risk and prognostic factors: (1) physiotherapy or exercise therapy; (2) an intensive workplace-oriented program; or (3) cognitive behavioural therapy. After 12 weeks, multi-disciplinary (occupational) rehabilitation therapy need to be considered. Conclusions Based on systematic reviews and expert consensus, the good practice recommendations in this guideline focus on enhancing work participation among workers with LBP and LRS using a stepped-care approach to complement existing guidelines focusing on recovery and daily functioning.

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