Chiropractor Tries to Curb Low Back Pain
A chiropractor is seen with his patient in a handout photo. Reuters/Newscom

Australian scientists probe into the factors that underlie low back pain (LBP) to come up with preventive programs or minimisation of exposure to these risks. A new research published in Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology, states that performing labour-intensive tasks that entail awkward postures increases the magnitude of low back pain by eight times. Fatigue and distractions aggravate the condition as well.

Manuela Ferreira, senior research fellow at the George Institute for Global Health and the Sydney Medical School, said that this research is the first to investigate psychosocial and physical factors linked to onset of low back pain. Analysis involved 999 subjects who were diagnosed with acute LBP at 300 different health care clinics in Sydney, Australia from October 2011 to November 2012. Participants were instructed to cite 12 possible factors noticed or felt 4 days before they started experiencing severe pain in the lower back region.

The research team noted that vulnerability to low back pain is triggered by certain factors. They used an odds ratio (OR) of 2.7 for mild to intensive physical activity to 25.0 for activity interference. Results show that age and the time of the day regulated exposure to heavy loads. Odds ratio was higher for individuals 20 and 40 years old and lower for those 60 years of age. Back pain risk was also highest from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The researchers also noted that factors that increased LBP risk were demonstrated in prior studies on occupational injuries.

Low back pain is one of the most diagnosed condition worldwide, particularly among adults with ages ranging from 35 to 55 years old. The World Health Organisation stated that it is the main cause of disability, activity limitation and absence from work. Related studies have shown its impacts on society and the economy. Acute backaches are felt at some point in one’s adult life, and it usually takes a month or several weeks more to recover. If the risk factors remain unidentified or modified, the condition is likely to recur. Despite the global prevalence of back injuries, there is limited development in studies on prevention and rehabilitation programs. This new study can help in understanding the causes LBP so as to develop suited preventive measures.

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