Effects of Functional Fascial Taping on pain and function in patients with non-specific low back pain: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Background Non-specific low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability worldwide. The primary physiotherapeutic treatment for LBP is physical exercise, but evidence suggesting a specific exercise as most appropriate for any given case is limited. Objective To determine if specific stabilization exercise (SSE) is more effective than traditional trunk exercise (TTE) in reducing levels of pain, disability and inflammation in women with non-specific low back pain (LBP). Design A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted in Rovira i Virgili University, Catalonia. Methods Thirty-nine females experiencing non-specific LBP were included in two groups: the TTE program and SSE program, both were conducted by a physiotherapist during twenty sessions. The primary outcome was pain intensity (10-cm Visual Analogue Scale). Secondary outcomes were disability (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire), and inflammation (IL-6 and TNF-α plasma levels). Measurements were taken at baseline, at half intervention, at post-intervention, and a month later. Results Mean group differences in change from baseline to post-intervention for TTE were: −4.5 points (CI 3.3 to 5.6) for pain, −5.1 points (CI 3.0 to 7.3) for disability, 0.19 pg/mL (95% CI [−1.6–1.2]) for IL-6 levels, and 46.2 pg/mL (CI 13.0 to 85.3) for TNF-α levels. For SSE, differences were: −4.3 points (CI 3.1 to 5.6) for pain, −6.1 points (CI 3.7 to 8.6) for disability, 1.1 pg/mL (CI 0.0 to 2.1) for IL-6 levels , and 12.8 pg/mL (95% CI [−42.3–16.7]) for TNF-α levels. There were an insignificant effect size and no statistically significant overall mean differences between both groups. Conclusion This study suggests that both interventions (traditional trunk and specific stabilization exercises) are effective in reducing pain and disability in non-specific LBP patients, but the two programs produce different degrees of inflammation change. Clinical trial registration number NCT02103036.

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Cost of opioid-treated chronic low back pain: Findings from a pilot randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation-based intervention

Journal of Opioid Management ◽

10.5055/jom.2017.0384 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 169 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Aleksandra E. Zgierska, MD, PhD ◽

James Ircink, BBA ◽

Cindy A. Burzinski, MS ◽

Marlon P. Mundt, PhD

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Mindfulness Meditation ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Indirect Costs ◽

Low Back ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Morphine Equivalent ◽

Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: Opioid-treated chronic low back pain (CLBP) is debilitating, costly, and often refractory to existing treatments. This secondary analysis aims to pilot-test the hypothesis that mindfulness meditation (MM) can reduce economic burden related to opioid-treated CLBP.Design: Twenty-six-week unblinded pilot randomized controlled trial, comparing MM, adjunctive to usual-care, to usual care alone.Setting: Outpatient.Participants: Thirty-five adults with opioid-treated CLBP ( ≥ 30 morphine-equivalent mg/day) for 3 + months enrolled; none withdrew. Intervention: Eight weekly therapist-led MM sessions and at-home practice.Outcome Measures: Costs related to self-reported healthcare utilization, medication use (direct costs), lost productivity (indirect costs), and total costs (direct + indirect costs) were calculated for 6-month pre-enrollment and postenrollment periods and compared within and between the groups.Results: Participants (21 MM; 14 control) were 20 percent men, age 51.8 ± 9.7 years, with severe disability, opioid dose of 148.3 ± 129.2 morphine-equivalent mg/d, and individual annual income of $18,291 ± $19,345. At baseline, total costs were estimated at $15,497 ± 13,677 (direct: $10,635 ± 9,897; indirect: $4,862 ± 7,298) per participant. Although MM group participants, compared to controls, reduced their pain severity ratings and pain sensitivity to heat stimuli (p < 0.05), no statistically significant within-group changes or between-group differences in direct and indirect costs were noted.Conclusions: Adults with opioid-treated CLBP experience a high burden of disability despite the high costs of treatment. Although this pilot study did not show a statistically significant impact of MM on costs related to opioid-treated CLBP, MM can improve clinical outcomes and should be assessed in a larger trial with long-term follow-up.

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Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Hatha Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain in a Predominant Minority Population

EXPLORE ◽

10.1016/j.explore.2009.03.047 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 161

Author(s):

Robert Saper ◽

Diana Cullum-Dugan ◽

Larry Culpepper ◽

Roger Davis ◽

Paula Gardiner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Chronic Low Back Pain ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Hatha Yoga ◽

Minority Population ◽

Low Back ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

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