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

The University of Sydney

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Popular

691 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.",

author = "Pengel, \{Liset H.M.\} and Herbert, \{Robert D.\} and Maher, \{Chris G.\} and Refshauge, \{Kathryn M.\}",

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doi = "10.1136/bmj.327.7410.323",

language = "English",

volume = "327",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Acute low back pain

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

Y1 - 2003/8/9

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.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/0042133416

U2 - 10.1136/bmj.327.7410.323

DO - 10.1136/bmj.327.7410.323

M3 - Review article

C2 - 12907487

AN - SCOPUS:0042133416

SN - 0959-8146

VL - 327

SP - 323

EP - 325

JO - British Medical Journal

JF - British Medical Journal

IS - 7410

ER -

Acute low back pain: Systematic review of its prognosis

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