scholarly journals Foot Reflexotherapy Induces Analgesia in Elderly Individuals with Low Back Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Pilot Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruna Hoffmann de Oliveira ◽  
Anna Quialheiro de Abreu da Silva ◽  
Daniela Dero Ludtke ◽  
Fernanda Madeira ◽  
Graciela Mendonça da Silva Medeiros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Postural Balance ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Elderly Individuals ◽  
Before And After

Introduction. This study evaluated the effects of foot reflexotherapy on pain and postural balance in elderly individuals with low back pain. Design. Randomized, controlled pilot study. Participants (n=20) were randomly assigned to 2 groups: individuals submitted to conventional foot massage (control group) or foot reflexotherapy (RT, intervention group) for a period of 5 weeks. Questionnaires on pain and disability (visual analogue scale [VAS] and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire [RMDQ]), heart rate variability, and orthostatic balance and baropodometric analysis were assessed at two intervals: before and after intervention. Results. RT group showed statistically significant differences when compared to control group in the following parameters: decrease in VAS scores for pain throughout the study, decrease in parasympathetic activity, and improvement in RMDQ scores. The two groups did not statistically differ in either orthostatic balance or baropodometric analyses. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that foot reflexotherapy induced analgesia but did not affect postural balance in elderly individuals with low back pain.

Adapted exercises versus general exercise recommendations on chronic low back pain in industrial workers: A randomized control pilot study

Work ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 733-740
Author(s):  
Cristina Cimarras-Otal ◽  
Noel Marcen-Cinca ◽  
Juan Rabal-Pelay ◽  
Beln Lacrcel-Tejero ◽  
Andrs Alczar-Crevilln ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Assembly Line ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Low Back ◽  
General Exercise

BACKGROUND: Exercise has been demonstrated as effective for the treatment of low back pain (LBP) in workers. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether an exercise program adapted to the characteristics of the workplace is a useful supplement to general exercise recommendations in assembly line workers with chronic LBP. METHODS: Workers were randomly assigned to intervention group-adapted exercises plus general exercise recommendations (n = 10), and control group-general exercise recommendations (n = 8). Both received 8-week exercise program through a mobile application (APP) to manage the intervention. Outcome was based on lumbar disability (Oswestry Disability Index), interference and lumbar pain intensity (Brief Pain Inventory), and kinematic parameters. RESULTS: Significant differences were obtained for the intervention group in the “pain interference” variable, in the “mood” and “enjoyment” sub-variables, as well as in “flexion angle” variable. For the control group, significant differences occurred in the “pain intensity” variable. Adapted exercise plus general recommendations seems more effective than the general recommendations for the improvement of lumbar flexion. CONCLUSIONS: An adapted exercise program for assembly line workers with chronic LBP could be an effective treatment. Future studies with a larger sample size and with an exhaustive control of the exercise adherence are required to confirm the findings of this pilot study.

scholarly journals Targeting the Autonomic Nervous System Balance in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain using Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julianna H. Prim ◽  
Sangtae Ahn ◽  
Maria I. Davila ◽  
Morgan L. Alexander ◽  
Karen L. McCulloch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Autonomic Nervous System ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Alpha Oscillations ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation

AbstractBackgroundChronic low back pain (CLBP) is characterized by an alteration in pain processing by the central nervous system that may affect autonomic nervous system (ANS) balance. Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects the balance of parasympathetic and sympathetic ANS activation. In particular, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) solely reflects parasympathetic input and is reduced in CLBP patients. Yet, it remains unknown if non-invasive brain stimulation can alter ANS balance in CLBP patients.ObjectiveTo evaluate if non-invasive brain stimulation modulates the ANS, we analyzed HRV metrics collected in a previously published study of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) for the modulation of CLBP through enhancing alpha oscillations. We hypothesized that tACS would increase RSA.MethodsA randomized, crossover, double-blind, sham-controlled pilot study was conducted to investigate the effects of 10Hz-tACS on metrics of ANS balance calculated from electrocardiogram (ECG). ECG data were collected for 2 minutes before and after 40 minutes of 10Hz-tACS or sham stimulation.ResultsThere were no significant changes in RSA or other frequency-domain HRV components from 10Hz-tACS. However, exploratory time-domain HRV analysis revealed a significant increase in the standard deviation of normal RR intervals (SDNN) for 10Hz-tACS relative to sham.Conclusion(s)Although tACS did not significantly increase RSA, we found in an exploratory analysis that tACS modulated an integrated HRV measure of both ANS branches. These findings support the further study of how the ANS and alpha oscillations interact and are modulated by tACS.

The Effects of a Digital Health Program Using Chatbot Through a Mobile Messaging App on Musculoskeletal Problems: Randomized Controlled Trial of the Self-Management Program in Workers with Neck/Shoulder Pain/Stiffness and Low Back Pain (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomomi Anan ◽  
Shigeyuki Kajiki ◽  
Hiroyuki Oka ◽  
Tomoko Fujii ◽  
Kayo Kawamata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Shoulder Pain ◽  
Health Program ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Musculoskeletal Symptoms ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Musculoskeletal Problems

BACKGROUND Musculoskeletal symptoms, such as neck and shoulder pain and stiffness and low back pain, are common health problems in the working population. They are the leading causes of presenteeism (employees being physically present at work but unable to be fully engaged). However, current medical systems do not spare sufficient resources for non-specific musculoskeletal problems. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the improvements in musculoskeletal symptoms after use of an exercise-based artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted interactive health promotion system that operates through a mobile messaging app (the AI-assisted health program). METHODS We conducted a two-armed, randomized, controlled, and unblinded trial in workers with neck/shoulder stiffness and/or low back pain. We recruited participants with these symptoms through email notifications. We obtained 48 participants in the intervention group and 46 in the control group. The intervention group received the AI-assisted health program, in which the chatbot sent messages to users with the exercise instructions at a fixed time every day through the smart phone’s chatting app (LINE) for 12 weeks. The exercises could be performed within 1 minute. The control group continued with their usual care routines, which included exercising for 3 minutes at recess time provided by the company to prevent stiff shoulders and back pain. We assessed the subjective severities of the neck and shoulder pain/stiffness and low back pain in participants using a scoring scale of 1 to 5 for both the intervention and the control group at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention using an online form. RESULTS We analyzed 47 patients in the intervention group and 40 in the control group. The participants in the intervention group showed significant improvements in the severities of the neck/shoulder pain/stiffness and low back pain compared to those in the control group (OR 12.74, P <.001). Based on the subjective assessment of the improvement of the pain/stiffness at 12 weeks, 36 (77%) participants in the intervention group and 3 (8%) in the control group had improved (improved, slightly improved) (OR 54.23, P <.001). CONCLUSIONS This study showed that the short exercises provided by the AI-assisted health program improved both neck/shoulder pain/stiffness and low back pain in 12 weeks. Digital health programs are low cost and safe and can save experts’ working hours and labor costs. Further studies are needed to identify the elements of the AI-assisted health program that worked. CLINICALTRIAL University hospital Medical Information Network-Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) 000033894; https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000038307.

Effect of a 12-week workplace interview intervention on physical activity and low back pain: a single-center, randomized controlled study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhiro Shimo ◽  
Mami Hasegawa ◽  
Seiko Mizutani ◽  
Tomomi Hasegawa ◽  
Takahiro Ushida
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Physical Therapist ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Office Workers ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Face To Face

Abstract Background Physical activity (PA) is essential in the management and rehabilitation of low back pain (LBP). However, it is not clear if workplace PA interventions can improve LBP. This study aimed to investigate the effects of workplace interview intervention on increasing PA and improving LBP among office workers. Methods We recruited 37 workers of a manufacturing company in Aichi, Japan. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n=20) or control group (n=17). We affixed waist-worn accelerometers to monitor PA in all participants, and provided face-to-face counseling with a physical therapist or nurse once a week for 12 weeks as workplace PA program to reassurance and encourage participants to keep high levels of PA. PA and LBP severity were assessed at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Results Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups, but PA was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group at 3 and 6 months. In the intervention group, was PA significantly increased at 3 and 6 months from baseline and LBP severity improved significantly at 6 months from baseline. We calculated the effect size of the interview intervention, and found that workplace interview intervention had a medium to large effect on PA and LBP severity. Conclusions Our data suggests that workplace PA intervention can increase PA and improve LBP among office workers. Trial registration UMIN-CTR Clinical Trial UMIN000038864 (https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000044321). Registered 12 December 2019, retrospectively registered.

scholarly journals The effect of the local cold application on low back pain and vascular complications of patients undergoing coronary angiography

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 7754-7762
Author(s):  
Fariba Ebrahimi-Shalmani ◽  
Farideh Hasavari ◽  
Salman Nikfarjam ◽  
Ehsan Kazemnejad Leili ◽  
Nazila Javadi-Pashaki
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Coronary Angiography ◽  
Interaction Analysis ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Vascular Complications ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Time Interaction ◽  
Cold Application

Coronary angiography due to the risk of vascular complications and low back pain development can lead to undesirable outcomes. This clinical trial was performed on 110 patients undergoing CAG through the femoral artery in 2019. Low back pain was assessed by VAS at baseline, 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours after angiography and vascular complications were investigated 9 times in this period. Results of group and time interaction analysis revealed that pain and vascular complications were significantly different between these two groups (P <0.001). After controlling for individual, clinical and technical variables, the scores of low back pain were associated with the intervention group compared to the control group (P <0.001), Body Mass Index (P=0/035) and INR (P <0.001). The extent of hematoma was associated with group (P = 0.003) and also the extent of ecchymosis was associated with group (P = 0.002), education (P = 0.44) and BMI (P = 0.035). In this study, the local cold was effective in back pain and vascular complications in patients undergoing CAG.

The effectiveness of 12 weeks of Pilates intervention on disability, pain and kinesiophobia in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 1249-1257 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Cruz-Díaz ◽  
Marta Romeu ◽  
Carmen Velasco-González ◽  
Antonio Martínez-Amat ◽  
Fidel Hita-Contreras
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Analogue Scale ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Disability Questionnaire

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of 12 weeks of Pilates practice on disability, pain and kinesiophobia in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. Design: This is a randomized controlled trial. Setting: This study was conducted in the university laboratory. Subjects: A total of 64 participants with chronic non-specific low back pain were included. Interventions: Participants were randomly allocated to intervention group consisted in Pilates intervention during 12 weeks ( n = 32) or control group who received no treatment ( n = 32). Main measures: Disability, pain and kinesiophobia were assessed by Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire, visual analogue scale and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, respectively. Measurements were performed at baseline, at 6 and 12 weeks after study completion. Results: There were significant differences between groups with observed improvement in Pilates intervention group in all variables after treatment ( P < 0.001). Major changes on disability and kinesiophobia were observed at six weeks of intervention with no significant difference after 12 weeks ( P < 0.001). Mean changes of the intervention group compared with the control group were 4.00 (0.45) on the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire and 5.50 (0.67) in the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia. Pain showed better results at six weeks with a slightly but statistically significant improvement at 12 weeks with Visual Analogue Scale scores of 2.40 (0.26) ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: Pilates intervention in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain is effective in the management of disability, pain and kinesiophobia.

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