The reduction of chronic nonspecific low back pain through the control of early morning lumbar flexion : A randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Spine (Philadelphia, Pa. 1976) Vol. 23; no. 23; pp. 2601 - 2607
• Main Authors: SNOOK, S. H, WEBSTER, B. S, MCGORRY, R. W, FOGLEMAN, M. T, MCCANN, K. B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Lippincott 01-12-1998; Hagerstown, MD
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Disability Evaluation; Diseases of the osteoarticular system. Orthopedic treatment; Female; Humans; Low Back Pain - drug therapy; Low Back Pain - prevention & control; Low Back Pain - rehabilitation; Lumbosacral Region - physiology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Movement - physiology; Pain Measurement; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Self Care; Single-Blind Method; Treatment Outcome; Human; Lumbar spine; Self evaluation; Low back pain; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Spine disease; Health education; Pain; Reeducation; Treatment; Rachialgia; Clinical trial; Intervertebral disk
• ISSN: 0362-2436; 1528-1159
• DOI: 10.1097/00007632-199812010-00015

Eighteen-month, randomized controlled trial with partial crossover.
To test the hypothesis that the control of lumbar flexion in the early morning will significantly reduce chronic, nonspecific low back pain.
Previous studies have indicated an increased risk of low back pain with bending forward in the early morning, primarily because of increased fluid content in the intervertebral discs at that time.
After 6 months of recording baseline data, 85 subjects with persistent or recurring low back pain were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. The treatment group received instruction in the control of early morning lumbar flexion. The control group received a sham treatment of six exercises shown to be ineffective in reducing low back pain. Six months later, the control group received the experimental treatment, Diaries were used to record daily levels of pain intensity, disability, impairment, and medication usage.
Significant reductions in pain intensity (P < 0.01) were recorded for the treatment group, but not for the control group (point estimate, 33%; 95% confidence interval, 11-55%). After receiving the experimental treatment, the control group responded with similar reductions (P < 0.05). Significant reductions also were observed in total days in pain, disability, impairment, and medication usage.
Controlling lumbar flexion in the early morning is a form of self-care with potential for reducing pain and costs associated with chronic, nonspecific low back pain.