Back and neck pain : factors of importance for the prognosis

Back pain and neck pain are very common and among the most frequent causes of sick-leave and disability pension, thereby greatly affecting the individual and the community. This stresses the need for prognostic research regarding these conditions. Aim: The main aim of the present work was to study prognostic factors, including manual therapy, for back and neck pain. The specific aims were, to investigate the influence of regular leisure physical activity and the body mass index (BMI) on the recovery from persistent low back pain (Study I), to study the influence of healthy lifestyle behaviour on the prognosis of occasional low back pain (Study II), to explore the long-term effects (up to one year) of naprapathic manual therapy for patients with non-specific back and/or neck pain (Study III), and to develop a prediction model for the recovery from whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) in patients who consulted physiotherapy (Study IV). Methods: Studies I and II were based on the Stockholm Public Health Cohort, and comprised data from four questionnaire-based public-health surveys conducted between 2002 and 2010. Study I included 1836 individuals reporting persistent low back pain at baseline in 2002 and answering the follow-up in 2007, while Study II involved 8994 individuals with occasional low back pain at baseline in 2006 responding to the 2010 survey. Information on exposures and potential confounders was collected at baseline. The exposures were, regular leisure physical activity and BMI (Study I), and “healthy lifestyle behaviour”, a combination of four lifestyle factors (smoking habits, alcohol consumption, leisure physical activity and consumption of fruit and vegetables) (Study II). Both Studies I and II assessed men and women separately. Study III was based on a Swedish randomized controlled trial of 409 patients with non-specific back and/or neck pain. It compared naprapathic manual therapy with evidence based support on staying active and on pain coping strategies. Questionnaires at 26 and 52 weeks provided the follow-up data. Study IV included 680 patients with WAD consulting physiotherapy, using data retrieved from the Saskatchewan Government Insurance study, Canada (1997-1999). A prediction model for recovery from WAD was developed and internally validated by assessing twenty-five possible prognostic factors, using survival analyses. Results and Conclusions: Regular leisure physical activity improved recovery from persistent low back pain among women. No such association was found among men, or between BMI and recovery regardless of sex (Study I). Healthy lifestyle behaviour decreased the risk of long duration troublesome low back pain among women with occasional low back pain. No clear association was found among men (Study II). Compared to evidence-based care, naprapathic manual therapy implied greater long-term improvement in pain and disability for patients with non-specific back and/or neck pain (Study III). The prediction model developed includes seven clinically important prognostic factors, and has acceptable predictive ability (Study IV). The conclusions in this thesis are, that lifestyle factors are of importance for the prognosis of low back pain among women, that combined manual therapy, such as naprapathy, has a long-term effect on non-specific back and/or neck pain, and that the present prediction model for recovery from WAD has acceptable predictive ability but has to be further validated to be used in clinical practice

Die Genealogie der Bilderhandschriften des Sachsenspiegels

Mental illness and psychological distress are global concerns. This study aimed to investigate the association between having non-preferred work and the incidence of spinal pain, psychological distress, and spinal pain with concurrent psychological distress, and if associations are modified by sleep disturbance. A prospective study of 4285 participants 23-62 years old was conducted, from years 2007 to 2010. Participants reported their work situation as preferred/non-preferred regarding profession/workplace with a high/low possibility to change. Psychological distress was measured with the General Health Questionnaire 12 and spinal pain with questions about neck/back pain. Binominal regression analyses calculated relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Non-preferred work with a low possibility to change was associated with a higher incidence of spinal pain (RR 1.8; 95% CI 1.2-2.6) and psychological distress (RR 1.8; 95% CI 1.4-2.4) compared to preferred work. The RR was 1.4 (95% CI 0.9-2.1) for spinal pain and 1.3 (95% CI 1.0-1.7) for psychological distress among those with a high possibility to change. Non-preferred work yielded a higher incidence of spinal pain with concurrent psychological distress (RR 1.9; 95% CI 1.0-3.7). Sleep disturbance did not modify associations. A replication based on newer data is needed to confirm the results. In conclusion, non-preferred work is associated with a higher incidence of spinal pain and psychological distress, especially if the possibility to change job is low

The long-term effects of naprapathic manual therapy on back and neck pain - Results from a pragmatic randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Back and neck pain are very common, disabling and recurrent disorders in the general population and the knowledge of long-term effect of treatments are sparse. The aim of this study was to compare the long-term effects (up to one year) of naprapathic manual therapy and evidence-based advice on staying active regarding non-specific back and/or neck pain. Naprapathy, a health profession mainly practiced in Sweden, Finland, Norway and in the USA, is characterized by a combination of manual musculoskeletal manipulations, aiming to decrease pain and disability in the neuromusculoskeletal system.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Subjects with non-specific pain/disability in the back and/or neck lasting for at least two weeks (n = 409), recruited at public companies in Sweden, were included in this pragmatic randomized controlled trial. The two interventions compared were naprapathic manual therapy such as spinal manipulation/mobilization, massage and stretching, (<it>Index Group</it>), and advice to stay active and on how to cope with pain, provided by a physician (C<it>ontrol Group</it>). Pain intensity, disability and health status were measured by questionnaires.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>89% completed the 26-week follow-up and 85% the 52-week follow-up. A higher proportion in the Index Group had a clinically important decrease in pain (risk difference (RD) = 21%, <it>95% CI: 10-30</it>) and disability (RD = 11%, <it>95% CI: 4-22</it>) at 26-week, as well as at 52-week follow-ups (pain: RD = 17%, <it>95% CI: 7-27 </it>and disability: RD = 17%, <it>95% CI: 5-28</it>). The differences between the groups in pain and disability considered over one year were statistically significant favoring naprapathy (p ≤ 0.005). There were also significant differences in improvement in bodily pain and social function (subscales of SF-36 health status) favoring the Index Group.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Combined manual therapy, like naprapathy, is effective in the short and in the long term, and might be considered for patients with non-specific back and/or neck pain.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN56954776.</p

Predictive models for short-term and long-term improvement in women under physiotherapy for chronic disabling neck pain : a longitudinal cohort study

Objectives: To develop predictive models for short-term and long-term clinically important improvement in women with non-specific chronic disabling neck pain during the clinical course of physiotherapy. Design: Longitudinal cohort study based on data from a randomised controlled trial evaluating short-term and long-term effects on sensorimotor function over 11 weeks of physiotherapy. Participants and settings: Eighty-nine women aged 31–65 years with non-specific chronic disabling neck pain from Gävle, Sweden. Measures: The outcome, clinically important improvement, was measured with the Patient Global Impression of Change Scale (PGICS) and the Neck Disability Index (NDI), assessed by self-administered questionnaires at 3, 9 and 15 months from the start of the interventions (baseline). Twelve baseline prognostic factors were considered in the analyses. The predictive models were built using random-effects logistic regression. The predictive ability of the models was measured by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Internal validity was assessed with cross-validation using the bootstrap resampling technique. Results: Factors included in the final PGICS model were neck disability and age, and in the NDI model, neck disability, depression and catastrophising. In both models, the odds for short-term and long-term improvement increased with higher baseline neck disability, while the odds decreased with increasing age (PGICS model), and with increasing level of depression (NDI model). In the NDI model, higher baseline levels of catastrophising indicated increased odds for short-term improvement and decreased odds for long-term improvement. Both models showed acceptable predictive validity with an AUC of 0.64 (95% CI 0.55 to 0.73) and 0.67 (95% CI 0.59 to 0.75), respectively. Conclusion: Age, neck disability and psychological factors seem to be important predictors of improvement, and may inform clinical decisions about physiotherapy in women with chronic neck pain. Before using the developed predictive models in clinical practice, however, they should be validated in other populations and tested in clinical settings

The ability of a submaximal cycle ergometer test to detect longitudinal changes in VO2max.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to examine the ability of a submaximal cycling test to detect longitudinal changes in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and examine the conformity between changes in measured and estimated VO2max over a time span of 5-8 years. METHODS: A total of 35 participants (21 men and 14 women), aged 29 to 63 years, performed the Ekblom-Bak (EB) submaximal cycle test for estimation of VO2max and a maximal treadmill running test for direct measurement of VO2max. The baseline tests were conducted between 2009 and 2012, and the follow-up tests were completed 5 to 8 years later. Pearson's coefficient of correlation (r) and paired sample t-test were used to analyse the association between change in measured and estimated VO2max. Random and systematic errors between the measured and estimated VO2max were evaluated using Bland-Altman plots. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to test differences between changes over time. RESULTS: There was no significant change in mean measured VO2max between baseline and follow-up (p = 0.91), however large individual variations were noted (- 0.78 to 0.61 L/min). The correlation between individual change in measured and estimated VO2max was r = 0.75 (p &lt; 0.05), and the unstandardised B-coefficient from linear regression modelling was 0.88 (95% CI 0.61 to 1.15), i.e., for each litre of change in estimated VO2max, the measured value had changed 0.88 L. The correlation between baseline and follow-up errors (the difference between estimated-measured VO2max at each occasion) was r = 0.84 (p &lt; 0.05). With regard to the testing procedure, repeated measures ANOVA revealed that there was no significant difference between the group who exercised at the same work rates at baseline and follow-up (n = 25), and those who required a change in work rate (n = 10). CONCLUSIONS: The EB test detected a change in VO2max with reasonably good precision over a time span of 5-8 years. Further studies are needed to evaluate if the test can be used in clinical populations and in subjects with different medications

Description and comparison of postoperative functioning of patients with hip fracture 2018 and 2008 at the Örebro University Hospital : a comparative cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Hip fractures are a global problem, and it will probably increase. Hip fractures impair health aspects which creates demands on postoperative care. This study describes and compares patients with hip fracture in 2008 and in 2018. An increased knowledge of this group could be a basis how to optimize aftercare and dimension rehabilitation. METHODS: Using a comparative cross-sectional study to describe and compare patients with hip fracture from 2018 and 2008 at Örebro University Hospital regarding age, sex, multimorbidity, fracture type, surgical materials, surgery within 24 hours, length of stay, postoperative walking ability, physical activity level and hand grip strength. Data was collected from 76 patients with hip fracture from 2018 and 78 patients from 2008. Outcome measures considering functioning were walking ability (Functional Ambulation Categories), physical activity level (Classification system of physical activity) and hand grip strength (Jamar hand dynamometer). Statistical analyses used were hypothesis tests and regressions analysis. RESULTS: No differences in age, sex, fracture type, proportion of surgery within 24 hours or length of stay between the cohorts. The cohort 2018 had more multimorbidity in number of diagnoses and ASA-classification preoperatively. In 2018 70% of the participants were dependent in walking ability (physical human support) compared to 43% 2008 (p = 0.007). Proportion of physically inactive was 9% in 2018 compared to 21% 2008 (p = 0.047). Hand grip strength was 5.1 kg better in 2018 (p = 0.011). Adjusted for age, sex, ASA-classification (American Society of Anaesthesiologists Classification System), surgical materials and number of days between surgery and testing the cohort of 2018 had a lower odds to have independent walking ability and higher odds to be physical active. Differences in hand grip strength decreased to 4.7 kg. Participants in 2018 suffered significantly more multimorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Study indicated differences in patients' postoperative functioning between 2018 and 2008 with more impaired walking ability, more multimorbidity, higher proportion of physically active and better hand grip strength 2018. The results are important for future reasoning regarding care needs of patients with hip fracture

Concurrent validity of an isokinetic lift test used for admission to the Swedish Armed Forces

The aim of this study was to assess the concurrent validity of the IsoKai isokinetic lift test peak force (IsoKai(Peak))1 in comparison to a submaximal 5-1ORM deadlift test (5-10RM(DL)), and to develop an equation for converting the IsoKai(Peak) in Newton (N) to an estimated 1 RM (1 RMest) deadlift load in kilograms (kg). The participants included 28 males and 16 female employees in the Swedish Armed Forces (20-59 years). Each participant conducted the IsoKai lift test, followed by the 5-1ORM(DL) test at one occasion. The Pearson's correlation coefficient, with a 95% confidence interval was calculated to evaluate the validity between the IsoKai(peak) and the 1 RMest deadlift load derived from the 5-10RM(DL) test. Univariate and multivariable linear regressions were used to derive the equation for calculating the 1 RMest deadlift load based on the IsoKai(Peak)- The IsoKai(p)(eak) showed good- to-excellent correlation with the 1 RMest deadlift weight with a correlation coefficient of 0.84 (0.72-0.91) for the total sample, and 0.65 (0.37-0.83) and 0.81 (0.53-0.93) in males and females, respectively. The final equation, 1 RMest deadlift weight (kg) = -51.63 + (0.08 x IsoKai(Peak))1+ (2.28 x BMI), explained 72% (adjusted R-2 = 0.72) of the total variance in the 1 RMest, and had a standard error of the estimate (SEE) of 16.57 kg. In conclusion, the IsoKai isokinetic lift test could be considered a highly valid measure of maximal dynamic muscular strength in comparison to the 5-10RM(DL). The equation can be used to convert the IsoKai lift test (N) results to an 1 RMest deadlift load (kg), but with consideration of the relative large SEE

Reliability and agreement of the IsoKai isokinetic lift test - A test used for admission to the Swedish Armed Forces

This study was performed to evaluate the reliability and agreement of the IsoKai isokinetic lift test as it is currently administered in admission to the Swedish Armed Forces. The study included an intrarater (n = 534) and interrater reliability sample (n = 137), of Swedish male conscripts who performed the test on two test occasions about two hours apart. Two-to-four lifts were performed at each occasion, and the highest mean (IsoKai(MF)) and peak force (IsoKai(PF)) produced (N) were used for evaluation. All intraclass coefficients showed excellent reliability. The interrater analyses resulted in intraclass coefficients of 0.942 (95% CI; 0.920-0.959) and 0.858 (95% CI; 0.806-0.896) for the IsoKai(MF) and IsoKai(PF), respectively, while the corresponding coefficients for the intrarater analyses were 0.935 (95% CI; 0.923-0.946) and 0.865 (95% CI; 0.842-0.886). Agreement, the capability of a test to detect changes, was assessed by the standard error of measurement (SEM/SEM%) and the smallest real difference (SRD/SRD%). These estimate indicated that it is possible to achieve measurements relevant to use in real practice with the IsoKai isokinetic lift test. Bland and Altman analyses revealed no systematic errors in either sample. Based on these findings, the IsoKai isokinetic lift test is suggested to be a highly reliable test for maximal dynamic muscular strength. The test could be of use in selection procedures in order to accurately evaluate maximal dynamic muscular strength, and for evaluating longitudinal changes in strength

The influence of self-reported leisure time physical activity and the body mass index on recovery from persistent back pain among men and women : a population-based cohort study

Background: There is limited knowledge about leisure time physical activity and the body mass index (BMI) as prognostic factors for recovery from persistent back pain. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of leisure time physical activity and BMI on recovery from persistent back pain among men and women in a general population. Methods: The study population (n=1836) in this longitudinal cohort study consisted of participants reporting persistent back pain in the baseline questionnaire in 2002-2003. Data on leisure time physical activity, BMI and potential confounders were also collected at baseline. Information on recovery from persistent back pain (no back pain periods &gt;= 7 days during the last 5 years) was obtained from the follow-up questionnaire in 2007. Log-binomial models were applied to calculate Risk Ratios with 95 percent Confidence Intervals (CI) comparing physically active and normal weight groups versus sedentary and overweight groups. Results: Compared to a sedentary leisure time, all measured levels of leisure time physical activity were associated with a greater chance of recovery from persistent back pain among women. The adjusted Risk Ratios was 1.46 (95% CI: 1.06, 2.01) for low leisure time physical activity, 1.51 (95% CI: 1.02, 2.23) for moderate leisure time physical activity, and 1.67 (95% CI: 1.08, 2.58) for high leisure time physical activity. There were no indications that leisure time physical activity influenced recovery among men, or that BMI was associated with recovery from persistent back pain either among men or among women. Conclusions: Regular leisure time physical activity seems to improve recovery from persistent back pain among women

The influence of self-reported leisure time physical activity and the body mass index on recovery from persistent back pain among men and women : a population-based cohort study

Background: There is limited knowledge about leisure time physical activity and the body mass index (BMI) as prognostic factors for recovery from persistent back pain. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of leisure time physical activity and BMI on recovery from persistent back pain among men and women in a general population. Methods: The study population (n=1836) in this longitudinal cohort study consisted of participants reporting persistent back pain in the baseline questionnaire in 2002-2003. Data on leisure time physical activity, BMI and potential confounders were also collected at baseline. Information on recovery from persistent back pain (no back pain periods &gt;= 7 days during the last 5 years) was obtained from the follow-up questionnaire in 2007. Log-binomial models were applied to calculate Risk Ratios with 95 percent Confidence Intervals (CI) comparing physically active and normal weight groups versus sedentary and overweight groups. Results: Compared to a sedentary leisure time, all measured levels of leisure time physical activity were associated with a greater chance of recovery from persistent back pain among women. The adjusted Risk Ratios was 1.46 (95% CI: 1.06, 2.01) for low leisure time physical activity, 1.51 (95% CI: 1.02, 2.23) for moderate leisure time physical activity, and 1.67 (95% CI: 1.08, 2.58) for high leisure time physical activity. There were no indications that leisure time physical activity influenced recovery among men, or that BMI was associated with recovery from persistent back pain either among men or among women. Conclusions: Regular leisure time physical activity seems to improve recovery from persistent back pain among women