The Effect of Order of Testing in Functional Performance in Persons with and Without Chronic Back Pain

Batteries of individually standardized physical and functional tests are commonly used to assess persons with chronic back pain disability. The order of testing may affect performance on later tests. One hundred and fifty patients with>3 months of back pain disability underwent a multidisciplinary Spine Team Assessment involving Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Pain Psychology, and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor assessments at a university spine clinic. Seventeen back healthy volunteers performed the physical component of the assessment. For the volunteers the order of testing was randomized to OT tests first or PT test first, with 0.5 h rest between the tests. For patients the order of testing was arbitrarily set by an alternating schedule, with 1 h psychological testing between the two components. For both the patients and volunteers, among the 14 test components, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in performance with order of testing. This held true for the subgroup of patients who put out good cardiac effort. Volunteers performed better than patients on all individual tests (p < 0.001). Results suggest that the order of physical testing during a Spine Team Assessment does not affect test performance either in chronic low back disabled patients or in volunteers.     

Effects of Subacute Versus Chronic Status of Low Back Pain Patients' Response to a Functional Restoration Program

This study evaluated various functional capacity measures in two cohorts of patients participating in a functional restoration program: 1) subacute patients (defined as being admitted to the program within 1/2 year of injury), and 2) chronic patients (defined as being admitted after 1/2 year of injury). The main aim was to evaluate the differential effects of subacute versus chronic intervention functional outcomes of low back pain patients who participated in a functional restoration program. Findings clearly demonstrated that, compared to the chronic intervention group (n = 170), the subacute intervention group (n = 110) displayed greater functional performance gains in various tasks (e.g., range of motion, lifting capacity, etc.). These findings are consistent with recent suggestions in the literature that early intervention will produce greater therapeutic improvement in low back pain patients, with resultant health-care cost savings. Additional research is needed to further evaluate the utility of distinguishing among acute, subacute, and chronic patients as a means of predicting the degree of functional gains produced by intervention.     

Activity Avoidance and Function in Persons with Chronic Back Pain

This study examined the relative contribution of two aspects of pain-related fear to functional disability among 133 persons with chronic pain, predominantly chronic back pain: 1) beliefs that pain represents damage or significant harm to the body and 2) beliefs that activities that cause pain should be avoided. Pain-related fear was assessed using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, Version 2 (TSK-2). Factor analysis in the present study replicated the two-factor solution found in a previous investigation, representing the two dimensions of pain-related fear noted above. Activity avoidance was significantly associated with the percent of maximum expected weight lifted from floor to waist and waist to shoulder during Progressive Isoinertial Lifting Evaluation (PILE). Fear of damage or harm to the body was only significantly related to the floor to waist lift. When controlling for demographic, physiologic, and other psychological variables, only activity avoidance continued to significantly predict performance on both lifts of the PILE. Although it has been proposed that deconditioning may mediate the relationship between activity avoidance and disability, this was not supported in the present investigation. The results highlight the importance of pain-related fear, particularly activity avoidance, in the assessment of functional activity among persons with chronic pain.     

Differences Among Outcome Measures in Occupational Low Back Pain

The rate of recurrence in low back pain patients has been reported as high as 70%; therefore, it is believed that researchers have a poor understanding of low back pain recovery. To enhance our understanding of recovery, a large cross-sectional study was conducted to compare outcome measures of return to work, impairment of activities of daily living, pain symptoms, and functional performance probability. A total of 208 workers were examined. The percentage of workers recovered based on return to work criteria was 99% compared to 25% for impairment of activities of daily living, 17% for symptoms, and 12.5% for functional performance probability. Single functional performance measures of range of motion, velocity, and acceleration had recovery rates of 59, 13, and 10%, respectively. It appears that all these criteria are measuring very different parameters of low back pain recovery. The residual loss in functional performance may indicate a decreased tolerance to physical demand providing potential insight for why recurrent low back pain rates are high.     

Matching FCE Activities and Work Demands: An Explorative Study

OBJECTIVES: to explore to what extent the standardized Isernhagen Work Systems Functional Capacity Evaluation (IWS FCE) can be matched with observed work demands in workers with chronic low back pain, and, secondly, to explore whether this match can predict sick leave in the year after rehabilitation treatment. METHODS: An explorative prognostic cohort study with a one-year follow-up (four, eight and twelve months after baseline) was performed (n = 18). Demographics, back complaints and FCE performance were assessed at baseline. In addition, a workplace assessment (WPA) was performed. Eleven FCE activities were matched with work demands. Sick leave associated with low back pain and physical and psychosocial work demands were assessed during follow-up. RESULTS: Seven activities could be directly matched with WPA data. (Carrying, pushing, pulling, crouching, kneeling, static forward bending, and dynamic bending and rotating.) For some workers, difficulties existed in matching three of the activities (pushing, pulling and crouching). One activity (lifting) could indirectly be matched with WPA data. One activity (walking) could not be matched with WPA data. Two activities (sitting, standing) were excluded from analyses due to practical limitations. No relation was found between FCE performance, work demands, and sick leave during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Seven FCE activities could be directly matched with work demands. However, not all observed work demands could be matched with IWS FCE activities in the eighteen occupations studied. This quantitative and standardized way of assessing work-related disability is not sufficient to predict work ability and sick leave at the present time.     

Psychosocial Factors and Functional Capacity Evaluation Among Persons with Chronic Pain

Psychosocial factors have been found to have a significant impact on functional activity, particularly among persons with chronic pain. While various systems have been developed to assess functional limitations through functional capacity evaluation (FCE), assessment of psychosocial factors that may impact function have been largely ignored. This paper examines the existing literature on psychosocial factors and FCE performance. Given that there are few studies that have directly addressed this issue, the paper also examines psychosocial factors that have been found to influence function in persons with pain. The results of the literature review indicate that few psychosocial factors have been found to be directly associated with FCE and functional measures, although many are related to various measures of disability. The strongest evidence that psychosocial factors are related to functional performance is based on the studies examining the association between functional activity and pain-related fear, self-efficacy, and illness behavior. Psychosocial factors have also been shown to influence measures of sincerity of effort often obtained during FCE. Proposals for modifying FCE assessment are given based on the available data, as well as suggestions for future research.     

Safety Issues in Functional Capacity Evaluation: Findings From a Trial of a New Approach for Evaluating Clients With Chronic Back Pain

Although safety is recognized as a critical issue in functional capacity evaluations (FCEs), it has rarely been investigated. This paper reports on the findings of a study which examined safety aspects of a new approach to FCE. Fourteen rehabilitation clients with chronic back pain participated in the study. Aspects examined included the pre-FCE screening procedures, the monitoring of performance and safety during the FCE, and the end of FCE measures and follow-up procedures. Support was found for the screening procedures of the approach, particularly blood pressure measurement, and for the combined approach to monitoring of the persons performance from biomechanical, physiological and psychophysical perspectives. Issues for FCE safety in general are identified and discussed, including the importance of screening procedures to determine readiness for FCEs and the issue of load handling in FCEs, especially in relation to clients with chronic back pain.     

Gender and Parental Status as Predictors of Chronic Low Back Pain Disability: A Prospective Study

This study investigated the relationship between chronic low back pain and various psychosocioeconomic factors, especially gender, that have been found significant in previous research. A cohort of 504 acute low back pain patients was initially evaluated and followed via a structured telephone interview at six months and one year after the evaluation in order to assess return-to-work and compensation status. Overall, the results demonstrated that the individuals who did not return to work were more likely to be female, single with children, and who have received compensation for their injury. These findings further document that single working mothers are at greater risk for developing chronic medical problems.     

Prediction of Sickness Absence in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES: To provide evidence of predictors for sickness absence in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (CLBP), distinguishing predictors aimed at the decision to report sick (absence threshold) and decision to return to work (return to work threshold). METHODS: Medical and psychological databases were searched, as well as citations from relevant reviews. In- and exclusion criteria were applied. Two reviewers assessed the methodological quality of the papers independently. RESULTS: Many different predictors were studied, and few factors were studied more than once. Consistent evidence was found for own expectations of recovery only as predictor for the decision to return to work. Patients with higher expectations had less sickness absence at the moment of follow-up measurement. As expected, different predictors were found aiming at the absence threshold or the return to work threshold. Furthermore, predictors varied also with the measurement instruments used, timing of follow-up measurements, and definition of outcomes. Until now, too few studies are available to overcome several potential sources of heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: No core set of predictors exists for sickness absence in general. The characteristics of the study including the decision to report sick or to return to work determined the influence of several predictors on sickness absence in patients with CLBP. Further research and use of a core set of measurements and uniform definitions are needed to predict sickness absence and return to work in patients with CLBP.     

The Role of Pain-Related Anxiety Reduction in the Outcome of Multidisciplinary Treatment for Chronic Low Back Pain: Preliminary Results

The success of multidisciplinary treatments for chronic pain in helping patients suffer less and function better is well documented. However, this success has occurred despite a lack of understanding of the process of change that produces positive outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of pain-related anxiety reduction in the outcome of treatment for chronic pain. Seventy-nine persons with chronic pain completed measures of pain, pain-related interference with activity, affective distress, general daily activity, and pain-related anxiety at admission and immediately following a 3-week multidisciplinary treatment program focusing on functional restoration. Patients significantly improved on all outcome measures. Reductions in pain-related anxiety predicted improved functioning on each measure. Additional analyses showed that change in pain-related anxiety remained a significant predictor of outcome independent of change in depression.     

Cost-Effectiveness of Radiofrequency Denervation for Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: The MINT Randomized Clinical Trials

ObjectivesTo evaluate the cost-effectiveness of radiofrequency denervation when added to a standardized exercise program for patients with chronic low back pain.MethodsAn economic evaluation was conducted alongside 3 pragmatic multicenter, nonblinded randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in The Netherlands with a follow up of 52 weeks. Eligible participants were included between January 1, 2013, and October 24, 2014, and had chronic low back pain; a positive diagnostic block at the facet joints (n = 251), sacroiliac (SI) joints (n = 228), or a combination of facet joints, SI joints, and intervertebral discs (n = 202); and were unresponsive to initial conservative care. Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and societal costs were measured using self-reported questionnaires. Missing data were imputed using multiple imputation. Bootstrapping was used to estimate statistical uncertainty.ResultsAfter 52 weeks, no difference in costs between groups was found in the facet joint or combination RCT. The total costs were significantly higher for the intervention group in the SI joint RCT. The maximum probability of radiofrequency denervation being cost-effective when added to a standardized exercise program ranged from 0.10 in the facet joint RCT to 0.17 in the SI joint RCT irrespective of the ceiling ratio, and 0.65 at a ceiling ratio of €30 000 per QALY in the combination RCT.ConclusionsAlthough equivocal among patients with symptoms in a combination of the facet joints, SI joints, and intervertebral discs, evidence suggests that radiofrequency denervation combined with a standardized exercise program cannot be considered cost-effective from a societal perspective for patients with chronic low back pain originating from either facet or SI joints in a Dutch healthcare setting.     

Test–Retest Reliability of the Isernhagen Work Systems Functional Capacity Evaluation in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

The aim of this study was to investigate test–retest reliability of the Isernhagen Work System Functional Capacity Evaluation (IWS FCE) in a sample of patients (n = 30) suffering from Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) and selected for rehabilitation treatment. The IWS FCE consists of 28 tests that reflect work-related activities like lifting, carrying, bending, etc. In this study, a slightly modified IWS FCE was used. Patients were included in the study if they were still at work or were less than 1 year out of work because of CLBP. Participants' mean age was 40 years, the duration of low back pain ranged between 5 and 10 years. Fifteen patients (50%) were out of work for a mean of 17 weeks, and they all received financial compensation. Two FCE sessions were held with a 2-week interval in between. Means per session, 95% confidence intervals of the mean difference, one-way random Intra Class Correlations (ICC), limits of agreement, Cohen's kappa and percentage of absolute agreement were calculated where appropriate. An ICC of 0.75 or more, a kappa value of more than 0.60 and a percentage of absolute agreement of 80% were considered as an acceptable reliability. Tests of the IWC FCE were divided into tests with and tests without an acceptable test–retest reliability on the basis of the kappa values, the percentage of absolute agreement and the ICC values. Fifteen tests (79%) showed an acceptable test–retest reliability based on Kappa values and percentage of absolute agreement. Eleven tests (61%) showed an acceptable test–retest reliability based on ICC values.     

自制动力性胸腰椎支具治疗腰背痛的临床疗效分析

目的探讨自制动力性胸腰椎支具在腰背痛中的治疗作用。方法自行研制动力性胸腰椎支具,应用该支具治疗132例腰背痛患者。应用疼痛视觉模拟评分法（VAS）和罗兰一摩理斯腰背痛生活障碍问卷 （Roland-Morns Disability Questionnaire）对临床效果进行综合评价。结果所有病例均获得随访,随访时间2-6个月,平均5个月,患者症状明显改善,无明显并发症。结论动力性胸腰椎支具具有良好的弹性固定作用,可进行主动运动,是治疗腰背痛的有效方法。     

自制动力性胸腰椎支具治疗腰背痛的临床疗效分析

目的探讨自制动力性胸腰椎支具在腰背痛中的治疗作用。方法自行研制动力性胸腰椎支具,应用该支具治疗132例腰背痛患者,应用疼痛视觉模拟评分法(VAS)和罗兰-摩理斯腰背痛生活障碍问卷(Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire)对临床效果进行综合评价。结果所有病例均获得随访,随访时间2～6个月,平均5个月,患者症状明显改善,无明显并发症。结论动力性胸腰椎支具具有良好的弹性固定作用,可进行主动运动,是治疗腰背痛的有效方法。     

Incorporating Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy with Occupational Therapy: A Comparative Study with Patients with Low Back Pain

This paper reports on the implementation of a psychoeducational program utilizing cognitive-behavioral principles. The efficacy of this psychoeducational treatment program in modifying dysfunctional attitudes in patients with chronic low back pain was examined using a two-group pretest posttest design with a follow-up at 3 months. Thirty patients (average age = 44,37, SD = 13.71) participated in the study, with 15 in the psychoeducational treatment group and 15 in the placebo control group. These two conditions were added on to an existing eclectic inpatient pain management program. After assessment on the IPAM (The Integrated Psychosocial Assessment Model), scores were reduced to multivariate composite scores on the factors of illness behavior, depressed and negative cognitions, and acute pain strategies. Results of a group × time repeated measures analysis of variance for the three pain factors revealed a significant main effect for group(F(23,1) = 5.00, p > .04), tempered by a significant interaction between group and time on the depressed and negative pain factor(F(23,1) = 4.77, p > .04). Patients in the treatment group improved significantly over time and significantly more than the placebo control group patients at posttreatment. Results provide support for the program in increasing patients' feelings of control over their pain and the use of positive coping strategies, while reducing perceived helplessness, depression, disability, and pain intensity.     

Fear-Avoidance Beliefs and Temporal Summation of Evoked Thermal Pain Influence Self-Report of Disability in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

INTRODUCTION: Quantitative sensory testing has demonstrated a promising link between experimentally determined pain sensitivity and clinical pain. However, previous studies of quantitative sensory testing have not routinely considered the important influence of psychological factors on clinical pain. This study investigated whether measures of thermal pain sensitivity (temporal summation, first pulse response, and tolerance) contributed to clinical pain reports for patients with chronic low back pain, after controlling for depression or fear-avoidance beliefs about work. METHOD: Consecutive patients (n=27) with chronic low back pain were recruited from an interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program in Jacksonville, FL. Patients completed validated self-report questionnaires for depression, fear-avoidance beliefs, clinical pain intensity, and clinical pain related disability. Patients also underwent quantitative sensory testing from previously described protocols to determine thermal pain sensitivity (temporal summation, first pulse response, and tolerance). Hierarchical regression models investigated the contribution of depression and thermal pain sensitivity to clinical pain intensity, and fear-avoidance beliefs and thermal pain sensitivity to clinical pain related disability. RESULTS: None of the measures of thermal pain sensitivity contributed to clinical pain intensity after controlling for depression. Temporal summation of evoked thermal pain significantly contributed to clinical pain disability after controlling for fear-avoidance beliefs about work. CONCLUSION: Measures of thermal pain sensitivity did not contribute to pain intensity, after controlling for depression. Fear-avoidance beliefs about work and temporal summation of evoked thermal pain significantly influenced pain related disability. These factors should be considered as potential outcome predictors for patients with work-related low back pain. SIGNIFICANCE: This study supported the neuromatrix theory of pain for patients with CLBP, as cognitive-evaluative factor contributed to pain perception, and cognitive-evaluative and sensory-discriminative factors uniquely contributed to an action program in response to chronic pain. Future research will determine if a predictive model consisting of fear-avoidance beliefs and temporal summation of evoked thermal pain has predictive validity for determining clinical outcome in rehabilitation or vocational settings.     

Symptom Increase Following a Functional Capacity Evaluation in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: An Explorative Study of Safety

INTRODUCTION: This study was performed to study intensity and duration of symptom increase following an FCE and to explore safety of an FCE. METHODS: Included were 92 patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), mean age 38.5 years, mean self-reported disability 12.5 (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire). All patients underwent an FCE. Symptom increase was measured with a 2-item questionnaire. Operational definition for safety: no formal complaint filed and symptom increase to occur only temporarily. RESULTS: No formal complaints were filed (n=92). In total, 54 patients returned the questionnaire (59%; 'responders'). Of the responders, 76% reported increased symptom intensity after an FCE, ranging from 'little increase' to 'severe increase'. Symptoms of all responders returned to pre-FCE level. Duration of symptom increase of the responders ranged from 1 day to 3 weeks. Symptom increase resided to pre-FCE level within 1 week in 93% of the responders. Symptom increase was weakly related to self-reported disability (r=0.38, p<0.05). Except for gender, differences between responders and non-responders were non-significant. CONCLUSION: A temporary increase in symptom intensity following an FCE is common. Within the operational definitions of safety used in this study, assessment of functional capacity of patients with CLBP appears safe.     

铸造工人腰背痛流行病学特征

[目的 ]描述铸造工人腰背痛流行病学特征 ,探讨职业相关因素。 [方法 ]对 6 17名铸造工人进行背部骨科体检和疼痛测量。 [结果 ]清理和造型工种背部压痛阳性率显著高于后勤组 ,OR值分别达 6 16和 11 90 ,控制性别、年龄和工龄等混杂因素后 ,OR值更为加大 ;曾有腰背痛主诉没有差异 ,但与目前工作有关的调整腰背痛患病率仍以清理和造型高 ,与后勤比OR值在 2倍左右。造型工疼痛诱因以过度用力、重复劳动和不良姿势为主 ,共占 88 4%。腰背疼痛强度多为中等度。 [结论 ]静态弯腰作业和重体力弯腰作业与腰背痛患病率密切相关     

NIOSH提举指数在下背痛流行病学研究中的应用

[目的 ]探讨美国国家职业安全卫生研究所提出的手工作业提举指数 (LI)与下背痛患病率的关系。[方法 ]在 3个具有典型提举作业的工厂中采用流行病学横断面调查方法 ,利用NIOSH提出的提举指数进行接触负荷评价 ,按照Nordic肌肉骨骼症状分析调查表对 491名从事手工提举作业的工人和 3 4名无明显提举任务的行政人员进行问卷调查 ,并对静态肌力进行测试。根据提举指数分为 0 ,～ 1,～ 2 ,～ 3 ,>3共 5组。观察各组工人不同部位肌肉骨骼疾患的患病情况 ,并分析提举指数与下背痛患病的关系。 [结果 ]在肌肉骨骼症状中 ,下背痛的发生率最高。当LI增高时 ,下背痛的OR值也随之增加 ,但其峰值出现在～ 3组 (OR =1.3 5 ) ,而LI >3 ,其OR值并非最高 ,仅为 1.3 0。平均腰拉力最大的为～ 1组 ( 95 .5 9± 2 1.76)kg ,而对照组和LI >3组则分别为 ( 80 .3 6± 14 .49)kg、( 86.85± 2 0 .3 3 )kg。 [结论 ]提举指数对手工提举所引起的下背痛是一个有意义的危险度评价指标。过度手工提举活动可能降低腰拉力。