Low Back Pain

1. Kwon, MA et al.A Correlation between Low Back Pain and Associated Factors: A Study Involving 772 Patients who had Undergone General Physical Examination. J Korean Med Sci. Dec; 21 (6): 1086-91 (2006)

Many factors are associated with the development of low back pain. Among them, exercise, obesity, smoking, age, educational level and stress are the most common. This study examined the association of these factors with low back pain. An additional aim was to determine a procedure for preventing low back pain.

This study analyzed the responses to a questionnaire sent to 772 individuals who had undergone a medical examination at a hospital in 2003 and excluded the individuals who had shown symptoms or their test results indicated a particular disease.

RESULTS:

• Individuals who exercised regularly 3-4 times per week would have a lower chance of having low back pain than those who did not exercise regularly.

   

• Individuals with a college degree or higher education have a lower chance of experiencing low back pain than those with only a high school education or even college drop-outs. When the other variables were constant, age, extent of obesity (body mass index), smoking and level of stress were not found to affect the development of low back pain.

   

• Regular exercise 3-4 times per week or more would be most effective in reducing the incidence and duration of low back pain.

   

2. Goldby, LJ.A randomized controlled trial investigating the efficiency of musculoskeletal physiotherapy on chronic low back disorder. Spine. May 1:31 (10): 1083-93 (2006).

A Randomized, single blind, controlled trial was performed to determine the efficacy of 2 components of musculoskeletal physiotherapy on chronic low back disorder. A total of 346 subjects were randomized to manual therapy, a 10-week spinal stabilization rehabilitation program, or a minimal intervention control group. Data was collected at baseline, and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after intervention. Outcome measures recorded intensity of low back pain, disability, handicap, medication, and quality of life. There were 4 main variables combined in a primary component analysis to form a single outcome measure (i.e., a measure of dysfunction).

RESULTS:
The results indicated statistically significant improvements in favor of the spinal stabilization group:

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