Non-specific Low Back Pain Language Has Hampered Our Low Back Pain Research Push
Goal of the Study? Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) has been misunderstood by many. In this opinion paper1 published in The Spine Journal, the authors tackle an essential topic to help clarify that NSLBP does not mean non-specific treatments. They discuss the term’s history and how widespread utilization has hampered the research front in sub-classifying […]
Posture and Disc Herniation
Goal of the Study? Logically, one would think that an intervertebral disc with internal disruptions would be more likely to experience a disc herniation. Currently, especially in physiotherapy, there is a push to steer away from concepts of disc damage for the fear of fear avoidance in patients. In this research1, published in the European […]
Pubertal growth spurt differentiates adults with low back pain from their asymptomatic peers
Goal of the Study? Disc degeneration (DD) is associated with ageing. However, DD is not always associated with lower back pain. This ISSLS Prize-Winning 2022 study1 looked at DD from childhood to adulthood to learn more about the natural history and see if it was related to clinical lower back pain. Why are they […]
Systematic Review of Facet Tropism in the Lumbar Spine
Goal of the Study? Facet tropism (asymmetrical orientation of the apophyseal joints greater than 7 degrees) is common in the lumbar spine. And because facet joints play a crucial role in stabilizing motion segments, alteration in their orientation can affect the dynamic motion and spinal position. In this research review1, these researchers searched keywords: facet, […]
Vacuum Phenomenon – What is it and can it tell us anything about the dynamics of the spine?
Goal of the Study? Intradiscal vacuum phenomenon is a commonly observed radiological finding in the spine but not much is known about its pathophysiology. A recent paper was published in The European Spine Journal1 and sought to explore more about this curious phenomenon by looking at patients with it and to see if the anatomical […]
Association between sitting and occupational LBP
Goal of the Study? In this 2007 systematic literature review from the European Spine Journal1 the authors’ goals were twofold: (1) Review appropriate literature that examines the association between sitting and the report of LBP among the working population; and (2) Identify if there is an interaction between occupational LBP/sciatica and sitting in combination with […]
Research progress diagnosing methodology for lumbar segmental instability
Goal of the Study? In this systematic review and meta-analysis article from the open-access journal Medicine 1, the authors’ goal was to examine published literature and determine the current state of research into methodologies for diagnosing lumbar segmental instability. Why are they doing this study? Lumbar Segmental Instability (LSI) is due to a pathologic […]
Clinical anatomy of the lumbar sinuvertebral nerve with regard to discogenic low back pain and review of literature
Goal of the Study? In this clinical anatomical study and literature review article from the European Spine Journal 1 the authors’ goals were twofold: (a) identify the anatomical mechanism of the Sinuvertebral Nerve in its relationship to lumbar discogenic pain and (b) clarify the different morphological aspects of the Sinuvertebral Nerve they found to those […]
Association between sedentary behaviour and low back pain
Goal of the Study? In this qualitative systematic review and meta-analysis article from the Journal of Health Promotion Perspectives 1 the authors investigated existing studies to determine if consistent correlations exist between various types of sedentary behaviour and low back pain in both children and adults. Why are they doing this study about sedentary […]