scholarly journals Low Back Pain in Adolescents: A Comparison of Clinical Outcomes in Sports Participants and Nonparticipants

2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie M. Fritz ◽  
Shannon N. Clifford
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Physical Therapy ◽  
Treatment Outcomes ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Sports Participation ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Baseline Characteristics

Abstract Context: Back pain is common in adolescents. Participation in sports has been identified as a risk factor for the development of back pain in adolescents, but the influence of sports participation on treatment outcomes in adolescents has not been adequately examined. Objective: To examine the clinical outcomes of rehabilitation for adolescents with low back pain (LBP) and to evaluate the influence of sports participation on outcomes. Design: Observational study. Setting: Outpatient physical therapy clinics. Patients or Other Participants: Fifty-eight adolescents (age  =  15.40 ± 1.44 years; 56.90% female) with LBP referred for treatment. Twenty-three patients (39.66%) had developed back pain from sports participation. Intervention(s): Patients completed the Modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire and numeric pain rating before and after treatment. Treatment duration and content were at the clinician's discretion. Adolescents were categorized as sports participants if the onset of back pain was linked to organized sports. Additional data collected included diagnostic imaging before referral, clinical characteristics, and medical diagnosis. Main Outcome Measure(s): Baseline characteristics were compared based on sports participation. The influence of sports participation on outcomes was examined using a repeated-measures analysis of covariance with the Oswestry and pain scores as dependent variables. The number of sessions and duration of care were compared using t tests. Results: Many adolescents with LBP receiving outpatient physical therapy treatment were involved in sports and cited sports participation as a causative factor for their LBP. Some differences in baseline characteristics and clinical treatment outcomes were noted between sports participants and nonparticipants. Sports participants were more likely to undergo magnetic resonance imaging before referral (P  =  .013), attended more sessions (mean difference  =  1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]  =  0.21, 2.59, P  =  .022) over a longer duration (mean difference  =  12.44 days, 95% CI  =  1.28, 23.10, P  =  .024), and experienced less improvement in disability (mean Oswestry difference  =  6.66, 95% CI  =  0.53, 12.78, P  =  .048) than nonparticipants. Overall, the pattern of clinical outcomes in this sample of adolescents with LBP was similar to that of adults with LBP. Conclusions: Adolescents with LBP due to sports participation received more treatment but experienced less improvement in disability than nonparticipants. This may indicate a worse prognosis for sports participants. Further research is required.

scholarly journals Do various baseline characteristics of transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus predict clinical outcomes in nonspecific low back pain? A systematic review

Pain ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 154 (12) ◽  
pp. 2589-2602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnold Y.L. Wong ◽  
Eric C. Parent ◽  
Martha Funabashi ◽  
Tasha R. Stanton ◽  
Gregory N. Kawchuk
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Transversus Abdominis ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Lumbar Multifidus ◽  
Baseline Characteristics

The Influence of Baseline Characteristics on Response to a Laser Acupuncture Intervention: An Exploratory Analysis

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Glazov
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Poor Response ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Laser Acupuncture ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Acupuncture Intervention ◽  
Failed Back Surgery ◽  
Baseline Characteristics

Objectives In clinical practice it is known that subjects vary in their response to acupuncture, but there is little data on what predicts the outcome. The aim of this study was to identify such predictors. Method A secondary analysis was performed on data from 100 participants in a trial of laser and sham laser acupuncture for chronic non-specific low back pain. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify which baseline characteristics predicted pain change in the immediate, short and intermediate term. An analysis of covariance was performed based on these results to re-examine the primary result of the trial. Results Strong predictors of poor response were receipt of disability support pension, headache, the regular use of analgesics or previous failed back surgery. Higher pain scores or exacerbation of pain at baseline predicted a greater proportionate pain relief after the intervention. Adjusted analysis suggested a clinically important effect of laser compared to sham (p<0.05), at short term follow-up only. Conclusion The findings of this study suggest which characteristics of patients with chronic low back pain are more likely to respond to laser acupuncture treatment, but require replication in other studies. The findings may not apply in other acupuncture interventions and treatment of different conditions. They may also be used to set selection criteria for future studies, and to aid interpreting the effect of baseline imbalances on trial results.

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