Profile of Patients With Acute Low Back Pain Who Sought Emergency Departments: A Cross-sectional Study.

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe the profile of patients with acute low back pain (LBP) who sought emergency departments (EDs) in Brazilian public hospitals. We also described the profile of these patients according to the STarT Back Screening Tool (SBST). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: LBP is the most common musculoskeletal condition worldwide and is one of the main complaints in EDs. There is a lack of evidence describing the profile of these patients from low- to middle-income countries. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving patients with a new episode of nonspecific acute LBP that was conducted between August 2014 and August 2016. Variables related to clinical, psychological, sociodemographic and work status characteristics were investigated through structured, in-person oral questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 600 patients were included in the study. The majority of the patients were women (58%), with a median of eight points on pain intensity (measured on an 11-point scale) and 17 points on disability (measured on a 24-item questionnaire). With regards to the SBST evaluation, 295 (49.2%) patients were classified as being at high risk of developing an unfavorable prognosis with a median pain intensity of nine points on pain intensity, 20 points on disability, and seven points on depression (measured on an 11-point scale). Despite this, the majority of the patients (74%) continued working normally without interference from LBP. CONCLUSION: Identifying the profile of patients seeking care in EDs can help to define effective management for LBP in low- and middle-income countries. Patients with nonspecific acute LBP who seek EDs in Brazil present high levels of pain intensity and disability. Most patients were classified as having a high risk of developing an unfavorable prognosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.

Do convolutions in Kinesio Taping matter? Comparison of two Kinesio Taping approaches in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: protocol of a randomised trial.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic low back pain is a common condition. A new intervention that is popular in sports has been used in patients with low back pain. This technique is based on the use of elastic tapes that are fixed on the skin of patients using different tensions and is named Kinesio Taping Method. Although this intervention has been widely used, to date the evidence of its effectiveness is lacking. RESEARCH QUESTION: Is the application of the Kinesio Taping Method according to the treatment manual (with convolutions in neutral position) more efficacious than a simple application without convolutions in patients with chronic low back pain? DESIGN: Two-arm randomised controlled trial with a blinded assessor. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: 148 patients with chronic low back pain from two outpatient physiotherapy clinics in Brazil. INTERVENTION: 8 sessions of Kinesio Taping according to the Kinesio Taping Method treatment manual (ie, 10-15% tension with the treated muscles in stretching position and with convolutions in neutral). CONTROL: 8 sessions of Kinesio Taping having no convolutions in neutral (0% tension) with the treated muscles in resting position. MEASUREMENTS: Clinical outcomes (pain intensity, disability and global impression of recovery) will be obtained in assessments that will be performed at 4 weeks and 3 months after randomisation. ANALYSIS: The effects of the intervention will be calculated through linear mixed models following intention-to-treat principles. DISCUSSION: This is the largest study aimed to investigate the hypothesised mechanism behind the Kinesio Taping application in patients with chronic low back pain. The results of this study will contribute to a better understanding about the mechanisms of action of this widely applied therapeutic modality. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials. REGISTRATION NUMBER: RBR-7ggfkv. PROSPECTIVE REGISTRATION: Yes. FUNDED BY: Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brazil. APPROVAL NUMBER: FAPESP number 2011/12926-0; CNPq number 470652/2011-0. ANTICIPATED COMPLETION: February 2013. CORRESPONDENCE: Leonardo Oliveira Pena Costa, Rua Cesário Galeno 448, Tatuapé, São Paulo/SP, Brazil 03071-000 Email: lcos3060@gmail.com FULL PROTOCOL: Available on the eAddenda at jop.physiotherapy.asn.au.