Researchers identify modifiable triggers of acute low back pain

Date: Feb-09-2015 Back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and the World Health

Organization reports that low back pain affects more people than major diseases like

diabetes and malaria yet we have not made much progress in preventing it. Now, in a new

study, researchers have identified physical and psychosocial triggers that can be

modified to prevent acute episodes of low back pain.

Carrying out manual tasks involving awkward postures can increase chance of low back pain by eight times.

The study was led by Manuela Ferreira, an associate professor with the George

Institute for Global Health and Sydney Medical School at The University of Sydney in New

South Wales, Australia.

The researchers describe how they conducted and analyzed their case-crossover study on

triggers of acute low back pain episodes in the journal Arthritis Care &

Research.

The team found that carrying out manual tasks involving awkward postures

increases the risk of triggering acute low back pain by eight times.

They also found that fatigue and being distracted can also significantly increase the

risk of acute low back pain.

First study to look at low back pain and brief exposure to modifiable triggers

Prof. Ferreira says their study is the first to look at how brief exposure to a range

of modifiable triggers can lead to low back pain.

Fast facts about low back pain

Low back pain is the most common spinal disorder
It affects over 8 in 10 people at some point in their lives
Many factors - physical, psychological and occupational - help to trigger low back

pain.

Find out more about back pain

She and her colleagues focused on episodes of acute low back pain - that is low back

pain that comes and goes as opposed to chronic low back pain that does not go away.

For the study, they surveyed nearly 1,000 patients attending clinics in Sydney for

episodes of acute low back pain. The survey asked the participants about 12 physical or

psychosocial factors they may have experienced in the 4 days before the back pain episode

began.

The results showed the odds of a new back pain episode was significantly

linked to a number of triggers - ranging from a nearly 3 times higher chance following

moderate to vigorous physical activity to a 25 times higher chance after being distracted

during an activity.

The team also found that age was a factor in triggering back pain when lifting heavy

loads - with younger people being significantly more likely to suffer an episode of

acute low back pain after such activity than older people.

Risk of suffering low back pain was highest in the morning

Some of the findings reflect those of previous studies, but a new finding not

seen before was that the risk of suffering low back pain was highest between 7 am and

noon.

Prof. Ferreira says understanding which factors are likely to trigger back pain and

controlling exposure to such risks is an important first step in prevention, and notes:

"Our findings enhance knowledge of low back pain triggers and will assist

the development of new prevention programs that can reduce suffering from this

potentially disabling condition."

Low back pain is prevalent in the US, and accounts for 3.15% of all emergency visits,

according to a study published in 2012 that looked at incidence and risk

factors for US patients with low back pain attending the emergency department.

Reporting on another 2012 study published in the journal Spine, Medical News Today learned how getting the right advice on how to remain active when on medical leave with low back pain can increase workers' chances of returning to work.

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.