Articles: back-pain.
-
Despite the use of Patient-Drawn Pain Drawings (PDPDs) in clinical settings, their validity as indicators of psychological distress remains debated. We aimed to assess the association between PDPD areas and physical health and psychological variables. ⋯ This large-scale study demonstrates that extensive pain areas in pain drawings drawn by LBP patients do not signify psychological distress. Our findings reveal that these pain representations are more closely linked to increased pain intensity, pain duration, and disability rather than being independently associated with psychological factors. Clinicians are encouraged to focus on the association of extensive pain areas with physical symptoms rather than psychological distress during clinical assessments.
-
This study set out to investigate in a population-based longitudinal cohort, whether chronification of back pain (BP) is related to structural gray matter changes in corticolimbic brain structures. Gray matter volume (GMV) was measured in participants with chronic BP (CBP, n = 168) and controls without chronic pain (n = 323) at 2 time points with an interval of 7 years (baseline t1, follow-up t2). Over this time period, participants with CBP showed an increase of GMV in the left ventral striatum, whereas controls showed a decrease. ⋯ Those with emerging CBP had less GMV in the right entorhinal area, right amygdala, and left medial frontal cortex. Additional variables differing between those who had BP at t1 and later developed CBP or not were pain intensity, body mass index, and depression score. In sum, these findings are in accordance with the notion that limbic brain properties are both predisposing risk factors and drivers of brain reorganization during the development of CBP.
-
Trunk co-contraction during lifting may reflect a guarded motor response to a threatening task. This work estimated the impact of pain catastrophizing on trunk co-contraction during lifting, in people with and without low back pain. ⋯ This work contributes evidence that people with back pain commonly exhibit trunk co-contraction when lifting. The lack of a relationship between pain catastrophizing and trunk co-contraction, however, challenges evidence linking psychological factors and guarded motor behaviour in this group. Together, this suggests that other factors may be stronger determinants of co-contraction in people with LBP or that a general construct like pain catastrophizing may not accurately represent this relationship.
-
Chronic pain is multifactorial and has large social and economic costs. Comprehensive pain management through an interdisciplinary approach addressing the biopsychosocial model of pain is beneficial. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and functional outcomes following participation in the 8-week virtual interdisciplinary Functional Integrative Restoration (FINER) program. ⋯ The FINER program reduced self-reported functional outcomes related to the participants' chronic pain. Positive qualitative feedback from FINER participants suggested mental and physical health benefits. Future investigation will include a larger cohort and will deploy active (patient-reported outcomes) and passive (mobility and sociability) digital measures to further characterize functional changes.
-
This was an observational study. ⋯ Globally, LBP remains a notable public health concern, carrying a consistently high burden. To alleviate the future impact of this disease, it is imperative to increase public awareness regarding its risk factors and to implement preventive measures.