Review
Rehabilitation
Filippo Maselli, Michael Palladino, Valerio Barbari, Lorenzo Storari, Giacomo Rossettini, Marco Testa
Summary: Purpose Red Flags (RFs) are signs and symptoms that mimic musculoskeletal pain but may indicate serious underlying pathologies. This systematic review aims to identify and evaluate the most important RFs in patients with low and upper back pain for screening serious pathologies.
DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Edilson Silva Machado, Fabiano Pasqualotto Soares, Ernani Vianna de Abreu, Tais Amara da Costa de Souza, Robert Meves, Hans Grohs, Mary A. Ambach, Annu Navani, Renato Bevillaqua de Castro, Daniel Humberto Pozza, Jose Manuel Peixoto Caldas
Summary: This systematic review evaluated the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in managing low back pain. The analysis of 13 randomized clinical trials and 27 nonrandomized trials or case series showed that PRP was generally effective and safe for degenerative low back pain. Positive results were found in almost all studies, although there were some biases in the research. Large-scale, multicenter randomized clinical trials are still needed to confirm these findings.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Claire Stark, John Cunningham, Peter Turner, Michael A. Johnson, Henrik C. Baecker
Summary: Smartphone rehabilitation applications have not been widely adopted, but the COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity for their integration. This systematic literature review compared smartphone rehabilitation applications to standard physiotherapy for back pain treatment. The results showed no significant difference in VAS-pain score between the application and control groups, except for one research group that found significant improvement in PROMs for the application group. Therefore, application-based rehabilitation programs can provide an easily accessible alternative for patients with back pain.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Nursing
Margaret J. Carman
Summary: Back pain, although common and often benign, can sometimes indicate a serious underlying condition that requires medical attention. Recognizing and communicating red flags to the attending provider can help in getting the correct diagnosis and management for the patient.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NURSING
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Pei-En Chen, Ching-Wen Chien, Tao-Hsin Tung
Summary: This systematic review explores the relationship between fragility fractures and pain experience. The findings suggest that post-fracture pain can last at least 1 year even longer, and some participants would need to self-manage pain. Limited range of motion may affect the normal development of daily activities.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Bernard Belhassen, Oholi Tovia-Brodie
Summary: Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation accounts for a significant portion of cardiac arrest cases, particularly affecting individuals in their forties. Syncope caused by short-coupled rapid polymorphic ventricular tachycardia is often misdiagnosed as neurally mediated syncope. Clinical clues and the presence of premature ventricular contractions on an electrocardiogram can help differentiate between arrhythmic and neurally mediated syncope.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Waruna L. Peiris, Flavia M. Cicuttini, Sultana Monira Hussain, Mahnuma M. Estee, Lorena Romero, Tom A. Ranger, Jessica L. Fairley, Emily C. McLean, Donna M. Urquhart
Summary: This systematic review found evidence of a relationship between body fat and its central distribution with low back and knee pain, as well as a longitudinal relationship between adiposity and back, knee and foot pain. These results highlight the potential for developing novel treatments at these sites.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Janny Mathieu, Megane Pasquier, Martin Descarreaux, Andree-Anne Marchand
Summary: The study aimed to summarize the diagnostic value of patient evaluation components for the diagnosis of low back pain and found that most components lacked diagnostic accuracy when considered in isolation. Further research is needed to develop evidence-based and standardized evaluation procedures, especially in primary care settings where evidence is still scarce.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Alshaymaa M. Arishy, Mohammed Salih Mahfouz, Husameldin E. Khalafalla, Mostafa M. E. Atteya, Yahya H. Khormi
Summary: This study assessed the knowledge and practices of primary healthcare physicians in the Jazan Region regarding red flags of low back pain (LBP). The study found that physicians had a good overall awareness of LBP red flags and would refer patients with red flag symptoms or signs to higher levels of care. However, there was still a high referral rate for nonspecific LBP, indicating a need for further educational programs in back pain management.
JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY HEALTHCARE
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Qiao Wen, Peihong Ma, Xiaohui Dong, Ruirui Sun, Lei Lan, Tao Yin, Yuzhu Qu, Yalan Liu, Qingqing Xiao, Fang Zeng
Summary: The study aimed to investigate acupuncture neuroimaging studies on low back pain, collecting data from English and Chinese databases. Most studies used manual acupuncture, evaluated functional changes, and used resting-state fMRI. Brain alterations in LBP patients were commonly found in the prefrontal cortex, insula, cerebellum, primary somatosensory cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex. Improved clinical outcomes correlated with changes in the brain, highlighting the importance of acupuncture treatment for LBP.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Anesthesiology
Samah Hassan, Karlo Nesovic, Jessica Babineau, Andrea D. Furlan, Dinesh Kumbhare, Lisa C. Carlesso
Summary: This review aimed to identify phenotypic domains and characteristics that account for interpatient variability in chronic low back pain. The findings revealed that pain-related characteristics, pain impact, psychological domains, behavioral domains, social domains, and sensory profiling are among the most identified factors contributing to interpatient variability. However, further investigation is needed in the field of pain phenotyping.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Mingxiao Yang, Susan Q. Li, Colleen M. Smith, Yi Lily Zhang, Ting Bao, Jun J. Mao
Summary: CZPRP shows better efficacy than diclofenac for acute low back pain, but results are not significant for mixed subgroup. Future rigorous studies are necessary to evaluate its effects on acute and chronic low back pain.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alberto Ruffilli, Simona Neri, Marco Manzetti, Francesca Barile, Giovanni Viroli, Matteo Traversari, Elisa Assirelli, Fabio Vita, Giuseppe Geraci, Cesare Faldini
Summary: Low back pain (LBP) is a common cause of pain and disability, but current treatments often fail to provide sufficient relief. Identifying reliable biomarkers associated with LBP, such as epigenetic factors, could improve clinical practice. This review examined the literature on epigenetic factors and found promising markers that could significantly impact disease management and treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Byron J. Schneider, Christine Hunt, Aaron Conger, Wenchun Qu, Timothy P. Maus, Yakov Vorobeychik, Jianguo Cheng, Belinda Duszynski, Zachary L. McCormick
Summary: Intradiscal biologics, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or stem cells (SC), are theorized to have regenerative properties and have gained interest as a possible treatment for discogenic low back pain. However, the evidence supporting their use in clinical practice is not well-defined.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yaolin Zhou, Timothy J. O'Leary
Summary: This meta-analysis compared the sensitivity of nasal and nasopharyngeal swabs for diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results showed that anterior nares swabs are less sensitive (82% - 88%) than nasopharyngeal swabs (98%). However, all swab types had negative predictive values greater than 98% for populations with 10% specimen positivity.
Article
Rheumatology
Alla Melman, Chris G. Maher, Chris Needs, Bethan Richards, Eileen Rogan, Min Jiat Teng, Gustavo C. Machado
Summary: This study reviewed the diagnostic and treatment approaches for patients with low back pain admitted to the hospital. The findings revealed some issues, such as excessive use of sedating pain medicines and advanced imaging, as well as complications during the hospital stay. Strategies are needed to improve inpatient care for patients with low back pain.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Anesthesiology
Tarcisio F. de Campos, Tatiane M. da Silva, Christopher G. Maher, Natasha C. Pocovi, Mark J. Hancock
Summary: This study investigated the prognosis of an acute episode of low back pain in a community inception cohort. The majority of episodes of low back pain recovered rapidly (median of 5 days) and more quickly than typically reported for clinical populations. Approximately 40% of the participants sought care.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PAIN
(2023)
Review
Anesthesiology
Qiuzhe Chen, Simon P. Vella, Chris G. Maher, Giovanni E. Ferreira, Gustavo C. Machado
Summary: This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that patients from minority racial/ethnic backgrounds in the United States are less likely to be prescribed opioid analgesics and undergo spinal surgery for low back pain. Strategic interventions are needed to improve access to and the value of clinical care for minority populations with low back pain.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PAIN
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Giovanni E. Ferreira, Christina Abdel-Shaheed, Martin Underwood, Nanna B. Finnerup, Richard Day, Andrew McLachlan, Sam Eldabe, Joshua R. Zadro, Christopher G. Maher
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive overview of the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of antidepressants for different pain conditions. The results show that antidepressants are effective in some pain conditions, particularly proton pump inhibitors, postoperative pain, neuropathic pain, and fibromyalgia. However, there is insufficient evidence to support the efficacy of antidepressants in other pain conditions. A more nuanced approach is needed when prescribing antidepressants for pain conditions.
BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Christopher G. Maher, Aline Archambeau, Rachelle Buchbinder, Simon D. French, Julia Morphet, Michael K. Nicholas, Peter O'Sullivan, Marie Pirotta, Michael J. Yelland, Leo Zeller, Nivene Saad, Elizabeth Marles, Alice L. Bhasale, Christina Lane
ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
William Taylor, Robin Willink, Denise A. O'Connor, Vinay L. Patel, Allison Bourne, Ian Harris, Samuel Whittle, Bethan S. Richards, Ornella G. Clavisi, Sally Green, Rana Hinman, Chris Maher, Ainslie E. Cahill, Annie McPherson, Charlotte C. Hewson, Suzie May, Bruce Walker, Philip Robinson, Davina Ghersi, Jane Fitzpatrick, Tania Winzenberg, Kieran Fallon, Paul Glasziou, Laurent Billot, Rachelle Buchbinder
Summary: The Australia and New Zealand Musculoskeletal (ANZMUSC) Clinical Trials Network developed a Research Question Importance Tool (ANZMUSC-RQIT) to rank research projects based on their importance. The tool consists of 5 dimensions and is designed for scoring by committee consensus.
Editorial Material
Rehabilitation
Christopher G. Maher, Aline Archambeau, Rachelle Buchbinder, Simon D. French, Julia Morphet, Michael K. Nicholas, Peter O'Sullivan, Marie Pirotta, Michael J. Yelland, Leo Zeller, Nivene Saad, Elizabeth Marles, Alice L. Bhasale, Christina Lane
CHIROPRACTIC & MANUAL THERAPIES
(2023)
Correction
Emergency Medicine
Katie de Luca, Andrew J. McLachlan, Chris G. Maher, Gustavo C. Machado
BMC EMERGENCY MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Emergency Medicine
Katie de Luca, Andrew J. McLachlan, Chris G. Maher, Gustavo C. C. Machado
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the management of older adults with lumbar spine conditions in emergency departments, as well as predictors of healthcare utilization in this population. Findings indicated that over one-third of older adults presenting to the emergency department were diagnosed with non-specific low back pain, and the majority were females. They received extensive imaging and laboratory tests, with opioid analgesics being the most commonly administered pain medication. The cost of care per presentation was high and a substantial proportion of patients were admitted to hospital.
BMC EMERGENCY MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Christopher S. Han, Mark J. Hancock, Sweekriti Sharma, Saurab Sharma, Ian A. Harris, Steven P. Cohen, John Magnussen, Chris G. Maher, Adrian C. Traeger
Summary: This article is a systematic review of diagnostic tests for identifying the source of low back pain. The findings suggest that there are informative tests for the disc, sacroiliac joint, and facet joint, which can guide targeted treatment approaches.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
C. B. Oliveira, G. E. Ferreira, R. Buchbinder, G. C. Machado, C. G. Maher
Summary: This study aims to investigate the alignment between national health priorities and disease burden. The findings show that globally, there is a low correlation between national health priorities and disease burden. Failing to prioritize health conditions according to burden may result in insufficient allocation of resources for those specific health issues.
Article
Orthopedics
Priti Kharel, Joshua R. Zadro, Giovanni Ferreira, Martin Howell, Kirsten Howard, Sally Wortley, Charlotte McLennan, Christopher G. Maher
Summary: The study found that language influences physical therapists' willingness to follow the Australian Physiotherapy Association's (APA) Choosing Wisely recommendations. Physical therapists are more willing to follow recommendations that provide more detail, alternatives to low-value care, and are positively framed. These findings can inform the development of future Choosing Wisely recommendations and help reduce low-value physical therapy.
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
(2023)
Correction
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Caitlin M. P. Jones, Chung-Wei Christine Lin, Richard O. Day, Bart W. Koes, Jane Latimer, Chris G. Maher, Andrew McLachlan, Laurent Billot
Letter
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Christopher G. Maher, Giovanni Ferreira, Caitlin Jones
LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Health Care Sciences & Services
Adrian Traeger, Gustavo Machado, Sally Bath, Martin Tran, Lucinda Roper, Crystian Oliveira, Aimie Peek, Danielle Coombs, Amanda Hall, Elise Tcharkhedian, Chris G. Maher
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR QUALITY IN HEALTH CARE
(2023)
