Articles: low-back-pain.
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Complement Ther Med · Mar 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effectiveness of relaxation acupoint stimulation and acupressure with aromatic lavender essential oil for non-specific low back pain in Hong Kong: a randomised controlled trial.
To assess the effect of acupoint stimulation with electrodes combined with acupressure using an aromatic essential oil (lavender) as an add-on-treatment on pain relief and enhancing the physical functional activities among adults with sub-acute or chronic non-specific low back pain. ⋯ Our results show that 8-sessions of acupoint stimulation followed by acupressure with aromatic lavender oil were an effective method for short-term LBP relief. No adverse effects were reported. To complement mainstream medical treatment for sub-acute LBP, the combined therapy of acupoint stimulation followed by acupressure with aromatic lavender oil may be one of the choices as an add-on therapy for short-term reduction of LBP.
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J Manipulative Physiol Ther · Mar 2004
A practice-based study of patients with acute and chronic low back pain attending primary care and chiropractic physicians: two-week to 48-month follow-up.
This study reports pain and disability outcomes up to 4 years for chiropractic and medical patients with low back pain (LBP) and assesses the influence of doctor type and pain duration on clinical outcomes. ⋯ Study findings were consistent with systematic reviews of the efficacy of spinal manipulation for pain and disability in acute and chronic LBP. Patient choice and interdisciplinary referral should be prime considerations by physicians, policymakers, and third-party payers in identifying health services for patients with LBP.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
A low back-specific version of the SF-36 Physical Functioning scale.
A prospective repeated measures design was used to produce a back-specific version of the Short Form-36 Physical Functioning scale (SF-36 PF) by Rasch analysis of a pool of items from the SF-36 PF, Oswestry Disability Questionnaire, and the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale. ⋯ The Low-Back SF-36 PF18 comprises the 10-item SF-36 PF scale and four items each from the Oswestry and Quebec back pain questionnaires. The possible total score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better function. The new scale appears to offer advantages over the use of the original scale for the assessment of functioning in patients with low back pain.
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Basic research is advancing the understanding of the pathogenesis and management of low back pain at the molecular and genetic levels. Frequently, low back pain is caused by disorders of the intervertebral disk. ⋯ Recent research using growth factors to promote chondrocyte regeneration appears to be promising. Advances in gene therapy to both prevent disk degeneration and regenerate the disk eventually may have clinical application.