Recurrence of an Episode of Low Back Pain: An Inception Cohort Study in Emergency Departments

Exercises for the prevention of non-specific low back pain

OBJECTIVES

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To evaluate the effects of exercise alone or exercise plus education compared with inactive control or education alone to prevent non-specific LBP.

Prevalence and Biopsychosocial Factors Associated With a Current Episode of Low Back Pain Among Adults With a Previous History of Low Back Pain: A Cross-sectional Study of Market Traders in an African Population

Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of years lived with disability globally, with Nigeria having one of the greatest burdens. A current episode of LBP is important in Nigeria, but the associated factors are unknown. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence, biomechanical, and psychosocial factors associated with a current episode of LBP among 700 adult market traders with previous LBP in an urban Nigerian population. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted. The prevalence of a current episode of LBP was 76.4%. Factors associated with an increased risk of a current episode of LBP in a decreasing order of importance were exposure to biomechanical factors (aggregate [total] score) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.535; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.398-1.685); anxiety (OR = 1.182; 95% CI = 1.089-1.282); fear-avoidance beliefs (physical activity) (OR = 1.139; 95% CI = 1.029-1.261); fear-avoidance beliefs (work) (OR = 1.105; 95% CI = 1.047-1.165); while factors associated with a reduced risk of a current episode of LBP were ability to take breaks in the job in addition to scheduled breaks (OR = .430; 95% CI = .240-.773) and ability to control the order and pace of tasks (OR = .477; 95% CI = .236-.965). Occupational biomechanical and psychosocial factors were associated with a current episode of LBP in logistic regression models explaining 52.7% and 73.1% of the variation in a current episode of LBP. Occupational biomechanical factors, particularly handling large and bulky objects at arm's length and kneeling and squatting, produced the greatest risk of a current episode of LBP. PERSPECTIVE: Occupational biomechanical factors, occupational psychosocial factors, and personal psychosocial factors such as anxiety and fear-avoidance beliefs are associated with a current episode of LBP in Nigeria. Pragmatic public health and occupational health initiatives that modify exposure to these factors may be required in Nigeria.

Focused Issue on Low Back Pain Clinical Research From Early Career Researchers: Delivering the Best Work From the Brightest Minds in Musculoskeletal Research to Help Clinicians Help Patients

The July 2022 focused issue of the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy is dedicated to clinical research on low back pain (LBP), a societal and economic health problem that is often underfunded. In this issue, the contribution of early career researchers is substantial and, as a testament, each article has an early career researcher as first and last author. The issue includes 2 literature reviews, 3 research reports, 2 clinical commentaries and 1 viewpoint, addressing timely topics in the field of LBP including the diversity of the LBP population under study, in terms of age, setting, and socioeconomic status. Moreover, methodological topics such as clinimetrics, causal mediation analysis, and evidence synthesis (systematic and narrative) are central to the issue. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2022;52(7):412-413. doi:10.2519/jospt.2022.11385.