scholarly journals Low back pain in physiotherapy students: Prevalence and the association with neuromuscular findings

2013 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Burger ◽  
H. Myezwa ◽  
V. Naidoo ◽  
B. Olivier ◽  
A. Rothberg

Background: Physiotherapy students are prone to low back pain (LBP) due to studying and their active involvement in clinical treatment of patients. As a result of pathology, muscle activity is influenced, affecting optimal function of the spine. Method: Physiotherapy students enrolled for 2010 at the University of the Witwatersrand participated in a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire and physical assessment were completed. Results: The study revealed that the lifetime LBP prevalence was 36% among physiotherapy students. Associations with LBP were hours of practical exposure, posterior-anterior mobilisations on L4 (p=0.003) and L5 (p≤0.001) centrally and unilaterally, left lumbar multifidus (LM) cross-sectional area (p=0.02), right obliquus internusabdominis (OI) (p=0.02) and right transversus abdominis (TrA) thickness at rest (p=0.02), as well as the pull of the TrA during contraction on the left (p=0.03). Discussion: Hours of practical exposure may play a role in lumbar pathology. Due to pathology, muscle imbalances of LM, TrA and OI affect the stability of the spine which may lead to recurrences. Conclusion: Practical exposure as well as LM, TrA and OI muscle imbalances were associated with LBP in physiotherapy students. Awareness of the factors associated with LBP while studying at an undergraduate level may lead to better prevention of LBP.

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e000556
Author(s):  
Ulrike H Mitchell ◽  
A Wayne Johnson ◽  
Patrick J Owen ◽  
Timo Rantalainen ◽  
Daniel Belavy

ObjectiveThe transversus abdominis muscle (TrA) is active during running as a secondary respiratory muscle and acts, together with the multifidus, as trunk stabiliser. The purpose of this study was to determine size and symmetry of TrA and multifidus muscles at rest and with contraction in endurance runners without low back pain.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingA medical imaging centre in Melbourne, Australia.ParticipantsThirty middle-aged (43years±7) endurance-trained male (n=18) and female (n=12) runners without current or history of low back pain.Outcome measuresMRI at rest and with the core engaged. The TrA and multifidus muscles were measured for thickness and length (TrA) and anteroposterior and mediolateral thickness (multifidus). Muscle activation was extrapolated from rest to contraction and compared with the same and contralateral side. Paired t-tests were performed to compare sides and contraction status.ResultsLeft and right TrA and multifidus demonstrated similar parameters at rest (p>0.05). However, with contraction, the right TrA and multifidus (in mediolateral direction) were 9.2% (p=0.038) and 42% (p<0.001) thicker, respectively, than their counterparts on the left. There was no TrA thickness side difference with contraction in left-handed participants (p=0.985). When stratified by sex, the contracted TrA on the right side remained 8.4% thicker, but it was no longer statistically significant (p=0.134). The side difference with contraction of the TrA became less with increasing training age.ConclusionsRight-handed long-term runners without low back pain exhibit a greater right side core muscle activation when performing an isometric contraction. This activation preference diminishes with increasing training age.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clecio Souza ◽  
Sanderson Assis ◽  
Karinna Costa ◽  
Yago Medeiros ◽  
Liane Macedo

Abstract BACKGROUND: Low back pain and disc herniation are common problems in the world population, being characterized by discomfort in the region of the spine, resulting in functional capacity and quality of life reduced. Some of the causes of these conditions seem to be associated with the biomechanical imbalance of the muscles that act in the spine. There are methods to assess the level of activation and strength of the stabilizing muscles of the spine, such as the Pressure Biofeedback Unit (PBU). This study aims to compare the level of activation of the transverse abdomen muscle and back strength in healthy, low back pain and herniated disc individuals. METHODOS: a cross-sectional study was carried out with 30 men that were homogeneously distributed in three groups: healthy (HG), with low back pain (LBPG) and with herniated disc (HDG). The primary outcomes were the level of activation of the transversus abdominis, assessed by PBU, and back strength, assessed by dynamometry. Pain, flexibility and disability were evaluated as secondary outcomes.RESULTS: The mean age of the participants in this study was 30.47 ± 9.74 years. Regarding the activation of the transversus abdominis, no differences were found between groups (p = 0.155). For strength, LBPG and HDG were different compared to HG (p = 0.028 and p = 0.045, respectively). Pain was different between the HG and both LBPG and HDG (all p < 0.001). Regarding flexibility, no differences (p > 0.05) were found. The HDG had the highest disability score and was statistically different of the HG (p = 0.005), but with no difference from LBPG (p = 0.087).CONCLUSION: the activation of the tranversus abdominis is similar between healthy, non-specific back pain and herniated disc individuals; however, the latter presents a reduced level of strength and more disability.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-44
Author(s):  
Aisha Ansari ◽  
Mohammad Shahid Ali

Background: Some studies have demonstrated that physiotherapists have a high prevalence of low back pain (LBP). The relationship between physiotherapy students, who are possibly open to the same LBP professional risks as graduates, and LBP has never been established. Objective: The objective of the study is to evaluate the association between undergraduate physiotherapy study and LBP. Settings: University of Hail, female Campus. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was carried out at University of Hail, K.S.A. A survey-based learning was carried out with physiotherapy and medical students. The target population of this study consists of 120 medical and physiotherapy students, where 60 were Medical and 60 were physiotherapy students. The sample was randomly selected from the University of Hail (female campus). The Social Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA) will be used to analyze the entered data. Descriptive statistics such as Chi square test, U test, correlation, graphs as well as percentages will be used to describe the participants. Result: Physiotherapy students reported a higher prevalence of LBP when compared with the medical students in all measures. There were no changes between the courses regarding pain intensity and disability.


Pain Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth B Hogans ◽  
Bernadette C Siaton ◽  
Michelle N Taylor ◽  
Leslie I Katzel ◽  
John D Sorkin

Abstract Objective Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of pain and disability. Substance use complicates the management of LBP, and potential risks increase with aging. Despite implications for an aging, diverse U.S. population, substance use and LBP comorbidity remain poorly defined. The objective of this study was to characterize LBP and substance use diagnoses in older U.S. adults by age, gender, and race. Design Cross-sectional study of a random national sample. Subjects Older adults including 1,477,594 U.S. Medicare Part B beneficiaries. Methods Bayesian analysis of 37,634,210 claims, with 10,775,869 administrative and 92,903,649 diagnostic code assignments. Results LBP was diagnosed in 14.8±0.06% of those more than 65 years of age, more in females than in males (15.8±0.08% vs. 13.4±0.09%), and slightly less in those more than 85 years of age (13.3±0.2%). Substance use diagnosis varied by substance: nicotine, 9.6±0.02%; opioid, 2.8±0.01%; and alcohol, 1.3±0.01%. Substance use diagnosis declined with advancing age cohort. Opioid use diagnosis was markedly higher for those in whom LBP was diagnosed (10.5%) than for those not diagnosed with LBP (1.5%). Most older adults (54.9%) with an opioid diagnosis were diagnosed with LBP. Gender differences were modest. Relative rates of substance use diagnoses in LBP were modest for nicotine and alcohol. Conclusions Older adults with LBP have high relative rates of opioid diagnoses, irrespective of gender or age. Most older adults with opioid-related diagnoses have LBP, compared with a minority of those not opioid diagnosed. In caring for older adults with LBP or opioid-related diagnoses, health systems must anticipate complexity and support clinicians, patients, and caregivers in managing pain comorbidities. Older adults may benefit from proactive incorporation of non-opioid pain treatments. Further study is needed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina Magdy Wahba ◽  
Dina Othman Shokri Morsi Galal ◽  
Aliaa Rehan Youssef

Abstract Background Smartphone use has been associated with pain in the upper quadrant; however, the relationship between usage duration and low back pain is still unclear. This study investigated the association between continuous smartphone use up to 30-min and back pain severity and proprioception acuity in patients with chronic low back pain. Fifty-eight patients with chronic mechanical LBP played a game for 10- and 30-min. In each session, pain and back repositioning errors were measured at baseline and immediately after task completion. Results Pain significantly but slightly increased following smartphone use, regardless to the duration (after 10 min: mean increase = 0.75 ± 1.17, P value < 0.001, 95% CI 0.44–1.06; after 30 min: mean increase = 0.96 ± 1.93, P value < 0.001, 95% CI 0.44–1.46). However, changes in perceived pain scores were not significantly different between the two tested durations (P value = 0.42). Proprioception repositioning error was not significantly different within the same testing session (mean change = 0.08 ± 1.83, 0.13 ± 1.77, P value = 0.73, 0.58, 95% CI − 0.40–0.56, − 0.60–0.33, for the 10 and 30 min, respectively). The changes in proprioception were not significant between the two-tested durations (P value = 0.56). Further, smartphone addiction did not significantly affect changes in pain and proprioception after game playing, regardless of the duration (P > 0.05). Conclusions These findings show that smartphone use slightly increases back pain immediately after continuous use; with no effect on back proprioception within the duration tested in this study. Changes in pain and proprioception were not influenced by smartphone addiction.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Meier ◽  
C. Emch ◽  
C. Gross-Wolf ◽  
F. Pfeiffer ◽  
A. Meichtry ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, causing significant personal and social burden. Current research is focused on the processes of the central nervous system (particularly the sensorimotor system) and body perception, with a view to developing new and more efficient ways to treat chronic low back pain (CLBP). Several clinical tests have been suggested that might have the ability to detect alterations in the sensorimotor system. These include back-photo assessment (BPA), two-point discrimination (TPD), and the movement control tests (MCT). The aim of this study was to determine whether the simple clinical tests of BPA, TPD or MCT are able to discriminate between nonspecific CLBP subjects with altered body perception and healthy controls. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted. At one point in time, 30 subjects with CLBP and 30 healthy controls were investigated through using BPA, TPD and MCT on the lower back. Correlations among the main covariates and odds ratios for group differences were calculated. Results MCT showed an odds ratio for the presence of CLBP of 1.92, with a statistically significant p-value (0.049) and 95%CI. The TPD and BPA tests were unable to determine significant differences between the groups. Conclusions Of the three tests investigated, MCT was found to be the only suitable assessment to discriminate between nonspecific CLBP subjects and healthy controls. The MCT can be recommended as a simple clinical tool to detect alterations in the sensorimotor system of nonspecific CLBP subjects. This could facilitate the development of tailored management strategies for this challenging LBP subgroup. However, further research is necessary to elucidate the potential of all the tests to detect alterations in the sensorimotor system of CLBP subjects. Trial registration No trial registration was needed as the study contains no intervention. The study was approved by the Swiss Ethics Commission of Northwest and Central Switzerland (EKNZ) reference number 2015–243.


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