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Glendale Adventist Medical Center
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Glendale, CA 91206
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The Second Coming of Back Pain

Posted on: 11/30/1999
Back pain is a common problem in adults around the world. Researchers in Sweden are conducting a series of long-term studies on back pain patients. This study looks at a group of adults from 18 to 60 years old. All had been treated by a physical therapist or a chiropractor.

The goal of the study was to find groups of patients who don't do well after treatment. This group was compared to groups of patients who got better. The idea was to look for ways to direct patients towards a treatment program that works for them.

Two groups emerged from this study. One group had constant back pain, or the pain came back after a pain-free period. The second group was pain-free for at least six months and didn't seek treatment or health care during that time.

All patients were followed for five years. Results after one year were compared to results after five years for both groups. The authors report the following findings for working-age adults with back pain of unknown cause:

  • About half the patients still had pain and disability after one and five years.
  • The same patients reported pain and disability at five years who reported it at one year.
  • Most patients recovered from the initial episode and developed back pain again later.
  • About one-third sought more health care during the five-year study period.

    The authors conclude that a previous history of neck or back pain is a risk factor for future episodes. Treatment must focus on preventing the number and severity of back pain recurrences. Studying the long-term patterns of patients with neck or back pain may give us more clues to risk factors for recurring back pain. Having this information may help health care professionals find more effective treatment in the future.

  • References:
    Paul Enthoven, RPT, et al. Clinical Course in Patients Seeking Primary Care for Back or Neck Pain: A Prospective 5-Year Follow-Up of Outcome and Health Care Consumption with Subgroup Analysis. In Spine. November 1, 2004. Vol. 29. No. 21. Pp. 2458-2465.

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