Articles tagged with Back Pain
A new forecast projects 1060 million people worldwide will live with 'other' musculoskeletal disorders by 2050, increasing healthcare needs and pressures on stretched systems. Research found these conditions are reported higher in females, increase with age, and peak at 60-69 years.
Researchers have identified a potential treatment for lower back pain by targeting senescent osteoclasts in the vertebral column of mice. Using anti-senescent drugs like Navitoclax may relieve spinal sensitivity and reduce pain, according to the study published in eLife.
A new study found that racial and ethnic disparities persist in access to chiropractic care and physical rehabilitation for adults with low back pain, with Hispanic adults being less likely to use these services. The study also found that policy changes are needed to address these gaps in access, particularly in underserved communities.
A new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that reattribution of pain to mind or brain processes can lead to significant reductions in chronic back pain intensity. Participants who received pain reprocessing therapy reported being pain-free or nearly so after treatment, compared to those receiving placebo controls.
A study of Medicare beneficiaries with chronic low back pain and opioid use disorder found that physical therapy and chiropractic care were underutilized, particularly among minority groups. The findings underscore the importance of addressing inequities in pain management to improve health outcomes.
A study found that US adults with radicular low back pain receiving chiropractic spinal manipulation for low back pain had significantly lower odds of being prescribed gabapentin. The odds ratio was 0.53, indicating a meaningful reduction in gabapentin use among patients who received chiropractic care.
A new method scans moving horses to produce an enhanced saddle-map, highlighting ideal areas for saddle placement to reduce pain and injury. The research identifies the most mobile areas of a horse's back as the least suitable for distributing pressure.
A randomised controlled trial published in The Lancet found no significant difference in pain levels among patients with lower back or neck pain who received opioid pain relievers compared to those given a placebo. The study also showed an increased risk of opioid misuse in the long term.
Biomedical engineers at UTS have developed an intervertebral disc-on-a-chip, a precision-engineered toolbox for low back pain studies. The device simulates the complex mechanobiology of native tissue, enabling accurate evaluation of experimental methods for treatment or regeneration.
A growing number of people worldwide will be affected by low back pain by 2050, with Australia facing a nearly 50% increase. The study highlights the need for effective prevention and management strategies to address this growing burden.
Researchers found dramatic reductions in pain and disability among almost 500 people seeking help for four years of chronic back pain. The treatment, Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT), improved social and emotional health, saving over $5,000 per person.
A study of high school students in Brazil found that excessive smartphone use is associated with thoracic spine pain (TSP), affecting girls more than boys. The research highlights the importance of health education programs to combat this issue and promote physical activity and good posture.
A recent clinical study found that an online e-health program helped more people with chronic pain reduce their opioid medications and pain intensity than a control group. The program, called Goalistics Chronic Pain Management, improved pain knowledge, confidence managing pain, and coping skills.
Researchers found that physician empathy and communication are strongly associated with patient satisfaction for chronic low back pain. Patients highly value physicians who validate their concerns and communicate treatment plans and expectations.
A systematic review found considerable uncertainty around analgesic effectiveness and safety for acute non-specific low back pain. Clinicians and patients are advised to use analgesics with caution due to limited high-quality evidence.
Most treatments offered to teenagers with persistent back pain are outdated and focus solely on physical factors, ignoring the impact of mental health and lifestyle on back pain. The study calls for a more holistic approach to treating back pain in teens, considering sleep, mood, stress, and relationships.
A world-first study from the University of South Australia is providing valuable insights into how young people understand chronic pain, potentially helping thousands of sufferers to better manage their symptoms and long-term wellbeing. Researchers found that young people tend to make sense of chronic pain by explaining it as a softwar...
A new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows that equine-facilitated therapy (EFT) can improve daily functioning and reduce perceived pain among patients with chronic low back pain. Statistically significant improvements were observed in domains such as sleep, reaching, and bending forward.
A recent study found that spinal manipulation is a gentle therapy used to treat low back pain in patients after previous lumbar spine surgery. The study, published in Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, compiled data from over 100 patients and reported most cases were done using a potentially gentler method.
A new review found that spinal cord stimulation is no better than a placebo for treating low back pain, with probably little to no benefit for people with the condition. The review also highlighted gaps in clinical data and called for future trials to be longer and more comprehensive.
A systematic review of Cognitive Functional Therapy found it to be no better than traditional therapies in reducing pain and disability in people with chronic low back pain. The researchers call for future trials featuring blinded participants and larger sample sizes to improve current evidence.
A systematic review of 18 studies found that muscle relaxants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can effectively reduce symptoms. Combining NSAIDs with paracetamol showed a greater improvement than using NSAIDs alone.
Researchers developed a quick clinical test predicting which people with neck pain benefit from epidural steroid injections, a common but costly and risky treatment option. The new variation on physical exam identified patients with nonorganic signs who are more likely to respond to the injections, guiding best use of treatment.
A comprehensive review of antidepressant use in chronic pain found that some classes were effective in treating certain conditions, while others showed unclear or unknown benefits. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like duloxetine demonstrated efficacy for various pain conditions.
Research from Boston Medical Center reveals Black and Hispanic patients are more prone to developing high-impact chronic lower back pain compared to White patients. The study suggests experiences of discrimination and unmet social needs may contribute to these racial disparities.
A recent study found that adults who receive chiropractic spinal manipulation for low back pain are less likely to undergo discectomy over two years. The study, published in BMJ Open, used real-world data and controlled for variables such as age and smoking.
Dr. Ted Price is leading a $11.3 million NIH multicenter project to elucidate the origins of pain, focusing on human nociceptor and spinal cord molecular signatures. Researchers will study DRG tissue from organ donors to understand how neurons communicate signals along the human pain pathway.
A meta-analysis by Goethe University Frankfurt found that individualized treatment combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) led to a significant increase in pain relief. The study showed an 84% higher success rate compared to standard exercise therapies, making this approach the most effective.
A multidisciplinary team at UC San Diego received NSF funding to create a system that remotely monitors patient posture, movement, and physical therapy treatments using wearable technology and machine learning. The goal is to enable personalized physical therapy treatments and improve health outcomes.
Researchers developed a digital health system approach to enhance clinical decision-making for low-back pain sufferers. The system combines self-reported pain measures with precise motion-sensing data, revealing functional improvements only after six months of surgery.
A new treatment has shown clinically meaningful effects on pain intensity and disability, with participants reporting improved quality of life and long-term benefits. The sensorimotor retraining approach alters how people think about their body in pain and normalizes communication between the back and brain.
Patients who received early physical therapy had significantly lower incidence of health care resource use, including ER visits, in the first month and year after symptom onset. They also spent less money on lower back pain-related services in the first 30 days after symptom onset.
A small study found that an experimental hydrogel injection into spinal discs significantly reduced chronic low back pain and improved physical function. The gel, known as Hydrafil, is easy to administer with no open surgery required, offering a promising treatment for degenerative disc disease.
Researchers from McGill University and Italy found that blocking neutrophils can prolong pain, even with anti-inflammatory drugs. The study suggests reconsidering acute pain treatment, and findings are supported by a large UK analysis.
A study of 97 randomised controlled trials found that combining physiotherapy with psychological interventions is more effective for improving physical function and reducing pain intensity. Pain education programs and behavioural therapy result in the most sustainable effects of treatment.
A large population-based study found chronic low back pain (CLBP) associated with reduced brain volume in pain-processing areas, including the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and amygdala. This association remained significant after adjusting for sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle factors.
A team of anthropologists examined spines from over 300 individuals and found that post-industrial humans have more lumbar wedging than pre-industrial people. Neandertals' spines were significantly different from those of post-industrial humans but not from pre-industrial people.
A joint team of Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania researchers, and JSC Abili created a prototype of an office chair that activates deep muscles and improves trunk stabilisation. This innovation aims to prevent musculoskeletal disorders caused by prolonged sitting, common among sedentary workers.
Chronic pain may lead to changed eating behavior and obesity due to altered brain responses to sugar and fat. Brain scans reveal a smaller nucleus accumbens in patients with chronic pain who experience disrupted satiety signals.
A Colorado State University study analyzed global health data to identify the leading causes of deaths and disabilities in the state from 1990 to 2019. Cardiovascular disease and cancers accounted for half of the deaths, while musculoskeletal disorders and tobacco use were also significant contributors.
Scientists have created a new imaging method that can detect microscopic soft tissue damage in animal spines, which may lead to improved treatments for lower back pain. The technique uses fluorescent molecules to target denatured collagen and produce precise 3D maps of spinal damage.
A new study by Vanderbilt University has developed Exo-LiFFT, an interactive calculator that helps companies reduce injury risk from work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The tool projects a 20-60% reduction in workplace back injuries for material handling tasks.
Researchers at Tohoku University developed a smart chair with pressure sensors that detect workers' movements to predict low back pain progression. By analyzing small body motions, they identified a common motif that can be used to forecast worsening LBP throughout the day.
Research reviews show that back pain in space is often sciatica, a form of back pain radiating down the legs. Astronauts experience changes in spine curvature due to microgravity, leading to acute and chronic pain upon return to Earth.
A new study shows that a four-week psychological treatment called Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) can provide potent and durable relief for chronic back pain in two-thirds of patients. The treatment alters brain networks associated with pain processing, reducing symptoms that last for up to one year.
A new 12-week mind-body program has been shown to be highly effective in treating chronic back pain, with 64% of participants reporting being completely pain-free after six months. The program, called Psychophysiologic Symptom Relief Therapy (PSRT), addresses underlying stressors and psychological contributors to persistent pain.
Physicians prescribed opioids more frequently to their white patients with new-onset low back pain, while prescribing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to patients of color. The study's findings suggest racial bias in pain treatment, with white patients being more likely to develop long-term opioid reliance.
A study analyzing Medicare data found that racial and ethnic minority groups received fewer opioid prescriptions for new low back pain compared to white patients. This disparity persisted during the first wave of the opioid epidemic, despite growing awareness of its adverse effects.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have discovered a drug cocktail that can mitigate disc degeneration associated with aging, reducing chronic back pain. By targeting senescent cells, the treatment slowed disc degeneration when administered early in life.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that analyzing pain distribution can predict chronic pain outcomes. Researchers identified 9 distinct groupings of pain distribution, which varied significantly across subgroups in terms of demographic and medical characteristics, pain intensity, impact, and neuropathic pain quality. The study...
A new app called selfBACK has been developed to help people deal with back pain in a better way. The app uses artificial intelligence and draws on other people's experiences with back pain to provide tailored advice and feedback.
A study by Curtin University found that people with low back pain are more likely to use a squat-like technique when lifting, contradicting existing advice. Researchers suggest a 'one size fits all' approach may not work and a more individualised approach may be required.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that muscle relaxants have a small effect on reducing pain intensity in the short term, but this effect is not clinically meaningful. The use of muscle relaxants may also increase the risk of side effects such as dizziness and nausea.
Researchers have created an ultra-thin, inflatable device that can be used to treat severe forms of pain, covering a large section of the spinal cord with electrical currents. The device could be an effective treatment for leg and back pain, as well as paralysis or Parkinson's disease.
A new study by University of Utah Health finds that people with lower back pain injury miss 11 more days of work in a year when only receiving non-recommended treatments compared to those treated according to guidelines. The study suggests that adherence to medical guidelines leads to faster resolution of back pain.
A new study from Boston Medical Center reveals a significant association between back pain and elevated mortality risk in women. Mild back pain is unlikely to impact life expectancy, but more severe cases are linked to an increased risk of mortality.
Researchers from Nagoya Institute of Technology in Japan propose a new protocol to evaluate postural balance control for elderly patients with low back pain. They found that local vibratory stimulation can improve proprioceptive function and alleviate symptoms.
A prospective clinical study found that patients have three times greater chance of positive outcomes when their surgeons follow evidence-based guidelines for lumbar spinal fusion. The results suggest that patients meeting criteria for successful surgery are three times more likely to experience improved quality of life and reduced pain.
Researchers found that antidepressants were either ineffective or provided a small effect on chronic back pain, with effects being even smaller for osteoarthritis. The study suggests antidepressants may not be the best treatment option for these conditions and could even cause adverse events.
A systematic review of antidepressant effectiveness for back and osteoarthritis pain found small, insignificant benefits for some patients. The evidence suggests that antidepressants may not be a worthwhile treatment option for chronic pain, highlighting the need for large-scale, industry-free trials.