Acute low back pain: Systematic review of its prognosis

Liset H.M. Pengel; Robert D. Herbert; Chris G. Maher; Kathryn M. Refshauge

doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7410.323

Acute low back pain: Systematic review of its prognosis

Liset H.M. Pengel, Robert D. Herbert^*, Chris G. Maher, Kathryn M. Refshauge

^*Corresponding author for this work

Erasmus MC other

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Popular

665 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To describe the course of acute low back pain and sciatica and to identify clinically important prognostic factors for these conditions.

DESIGN: Systematic review.

DATA SOURCES: Searches of Medline, Embase, Cinahl, and Science Citation Index and iterative searches of bibliographies.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain, disability, and return to work.

RESULTS: 15 studies of variable methodological quality were included. Rapid improvements in pain (mean reduction 58% of initial scores), disability (58%), and return to work (82% of those initially off work) occurred in one month. Further improvement was apparent until about three months. Thereafter levels for pain, disability, and return to work remained almost constant. 73% of patients had at least one recurrence within 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS: People with acute low back pain and associated disability usually improve rapidly within weeks. None the less, pain and disability are typically ongoing, and recurrences are common.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	323-325
Number of pages	3
Journal	British Medical Journal
Volume	327
Issue number	7410
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.327.7410.323
Publication status	Published - 9 Aug 2003

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10.1136/bmj.327.7410.323

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title = "Acute low back pain: Systematic review of its prognosis",

abstract = "OBJECTIVES: To describe the course of acute low back pain and sciatica and to identify clinically important prognostic factors for these conditions.DESIGN: Systematic review.DATA SOURCES: Searches of Medline, Embase, Cinahl, and Science Citation Index and iterative searches of bibliographies.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain, disability, and return to work.RESULTS: 15 studies of variable methodological quality were included. Rapid improvements in pain (mean reduction 58% of initial scores), disability (58%), and return to work (82% of those initially off work) occurred in one month. Further improvement was apparent until about three months. Thereafter levels for pain, disability, and return to work remained almost constant. 73% of patients had at least one recurrence within 12 months.CONCLUSIONS: People with acute low back pain and associated disability usually improve rapidly within weeks. None the less, pain and disability are typically ongoing, and recurrences are common.",

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T2 - Systematic review of its prognosis

AU - Pengel, Liset H.M.

AU - Herbert, Robert D.

AU - Maher, Chris G.

AU - Refshauge, Kathryn M.

PY - 2003/8/9

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N2 - OBJECTIVES: To describe the course of acute low back pain and sciatica and to identify clinically important prognostic factors for these conditions.DESIGN: Systematic review.DATA SOURCES: Searches of Medline, Embase, Cinahl, and Science Citation Index and iterative searches of bibliographies.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain, disability, and return to work.RESULTS: 15 studies of variable methodological quality were included. Rapid improvements in pain (mean reduction 58% of initial scores), disability (58%), and return to work (82% of those initially off work) occurred in one month. Further improvement was apparent until about three months. Thereafter levels for pain, disability, and return to work remained almost constant. 73% of patients had at least one recurrence within 12 months.CONCLUSIONS: People with acute low back pain and associated disability usually improve rapidly within weeks. None the less, pain and disability are typically ongoing, and recurrences are common.

AB - OBJECTIVES: To describe the course of acute low back pain and sciatica and to identify clinically important prognostic factors for these conditions.DESIGN: Systematic review.DATA SOURCES: Searches of Medline, Embase, Cinahl, and Science Citation Index and iterative searches of bibliographies.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain, disability, and return to work.RESULTS: 15 studies of variable methodological quality were included. Rapid improvements in pain (mean reduction 58% of initial scores), disability (58%), and return to work (82% of those initially off work) occurred in one month. Further improvement was apparent until about three months. Thereafter levels for pain, disability, and return to work remained almost constant. 73% of patients had at least one recurrence within 12 months.CONCLUSIONS: People with acute low back pain and associated disability usually improve rapidly within weeks. None the less, pain and disability are typically ongoing, and recurrences are common.

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Acute low back pain: Systematic review of its prognosis

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