Chronic low back pain: diagnostic classification, intervention and outcome

Journal Contribution ResearchOnline@JCU
Flavell, Carol;Marshman, Laurence;Gordon, Susan;Watt, Kerrianne
Abstract

Background / Aims: This research consists of three interconnected and sequential studies. Preliminary data from study two will be presented. This study aims to evaluate a physiotherapy diagnostic classification system for chronic low back pain (CLBP), against a gold standard of anaesthetic spinal injection. Methods: Volunteer participants (n=30), diagnosed with CLBP were recruited. A physiotherapist and a neurosurgeon examined and classified all subjects. T he physiotherapist and neurosurgeon were blinded to each other’s examination findings. S pinal injection was conducted by the neurosurgeon. Immediately following spinal injection subjects were re-examined, and post injection pain levels were determined. Data from participants whose physiotherapy classification matched the diagnosis of the neurosurgeon was analysed to identify significant differences in pain levels. Results: S ubjects showed significant improvement (P < 0.001), in before and after spinal injection measures of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Numerical Pain Scale (NPS). In addition greater than 50% of participants reported 80-100% reduction in NPS and VAS. Conclusion: The preliminary results suggest that this physiotherapy classification protocol is a valid tool, and has implications for the role of physiotherapists in the classification of chronic low back pain prior to spinal injection and potential to improve physiotherapy interventions for patients with chronic low back pain.

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13

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1448-4706

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2

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1

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Australasian College of Tropical Medicine (ACTM)

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