Lumbar spine: agreement in the interpretation of 1.5-T MR images by using the Nordic Modic Consensus Group classification form.

Purpose: To evaluate intra- and interobserver agreement for the interpretation of lumbar 1.5-T magnetic resonance (MR) images in a community setting.

Materials And Methods: The study design was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Ramón y Cajal Hospital.

The influence of psychological factors on low back pain-related disability in community dwelling older persons.

Objectives: To assess the influence of fear avoidance beliefs (FAB) and catastrophizing on low back pain (LBP)-related disability in Spanish community dwelling retirees.

Design: Correlation between variables measured with previously validated instruments.

Setting: Majorca, Spain.

Minimum detectable and minimal clinically important changes for pain in patients with nonspecific neck pain.

Background: The minimal detectable change (MDC) and the minimal clinically important changes (MCIC) have been explored for nonspecific low back pain patients and are similar across different cultural settings. No data on MDC and MCIC for pain severity are available for neck pain patients. The objectives of this study were to estimate MDC and MCIC for pain severity in subacute and chronic neck pain (NP) patients, to assess if MDC and MCIC values are influenced by baseline values and to explore if they are different in the subset of patients reporting referred pain, and in subacute versus chronic patients.

Psychometric characteristics of the Spanish version of instruments to measure neck pain disability.

Background: The NDI, COM and NPQ are evaluation instruments for disability due to NP. There was no Spanish version of NDI or COM for which psychometric characteristics were known. The objectives of this study were to translate and culturally adapt the Spanish version of the Neck Disability Index Questionnaire (NDI), and the Core Outcome Measure (COM), to validate its use in Spanish speaking patients with non-specific neck pain (NP), and to compare their psychometric characteristics with those of the Spanish version of the Northwick Pain Questionnaire (NPQ).

Minimal clinically important change for pain intensity and disability in patients with nonspecific low back pain.

Study Design: Cohort study.

Objective: To estimate the minimal clinically important change (MCIC) on the pain intensity numerical rating scale (PI-NRS) and the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMQ) in subacute and chronic patients with low back pain (LBP), with and without referred pain to the leg (LP), seen in the routine clinical practice of the Spanish National Health Service.

Summary Of Background Data: MCIC have been explored in Anglo-Saxon and Northern European LBP patients.

A consensus approach toward the standardization of back pain definitions for use in prevalence studies.

Study Design: A modified Delphi study conducted with 28 experts in back pain research from 12 countries.

Objective: To identify standardized definitions of low back pain that could be consistently used by investigators in prevalence studies to provide comparable data.

Summary Of Background Data: Differences in the definition of back pain prevalence in population studies lead to heterogeneity in study findings, and limitations or impossibilities in comparing or summarizing prevalence figures from different studies.

[How to care for the backs of the caretakers].

Rachis mechanical syndrome is especially frequent among nursing professionals, probably due to ergonomic and psychological factors. In order to prevent this syndrome, and to accelerate recovery from it, correct posture and, moreover regular physical exercises constitute the best current methods available.

Fear avoidance beliefs do not influence disability and quality of life in Spanish elderly subjects with low back pain.

Study Design: Correlation between previously validated questionnaires.

Objective: To assess the association of fear avoidance beliefs (FAB) with disability and quality of life in elderly Spanish subjects.

Summary Of Background Data: As opposed to Anglo-Saxon and Northern European patients, in Spanish low back pain (LBP) patients of working age, the influence of FAB on disability and quality of life is sparse and much less than that of pain.

Prognostic factors for neuroreflexotherapy in the treatment of subacute and chronic neck and back pain: a study of predictors of clinical outcome in routine practice of the Spanish National Health Service.

Study Design: Prospective cohort follow-up study.

Objectives: To refine the indication criteria for neuroreflexotherapy (NRT) in the treatment of subacute and chronic neck (NP), thoracic (TP) and low back pain (LBP) in the Spanish National Health Service (SNHS), by identifying prognostic factors for clinical outcome.

Summary Of Background Data: NRT consists of the temporary subcutaneous implantation of surgical devices in trigger points.

A comparison of two short education programs for improving low back pain-related disability in the elderly: a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Study Design: Cluster randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of 2 minimal education programs for improving low back pain (LBP)-related disability in the elderly.

Summary Of Background Data: No education program has shown effectiveness on low back pain (LBP)-related disability in the elderly.

Non-specific low back pain in primary care in the Spanish National Health Service: a prospective study on clinical outcomes and determinants of management.

Background: The Spanish National Health Service is a universal and free health care system. Non-specific low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent disorder, generating large health and social costs. The objectives of this study were to describe its management in primary care, to assess patient characteristics that influence physicians' decisions, and to describe clinical outcome at 2 months.

Correlation between pain, disability, and quality of life in patients with common low back pain.

Study Design: Correlation among previously validated questionnaires.

Objectives: To determine the correlation between pain, disability, and quality of life in patients with low back pain.

Summary Of Background Data: The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the Roland-Morris (RMQ), Oswestry (OQ), and EuroQol (EQ) Questionnaires are validated instruments to assess pain, low back pain-related disability, and quality of life.

Effect of firmness of mattress on chronic non-specific low-back pain: randomised, double-blind, controlled, multicentre trial.

Background: A firm mattress is commonly believed to be beneficial for low-back pain, although evidence supporting this recommendation is lacking. We assessed the effect of different firmnesses of mattresses on the clinical course of patients with chronic non-specific low-back pain.

Methods: In a randomised, double-blind, controlled, multicentre trial, we assessed 313 adults who had chronic non-specific low-back pain, but no referred pain, who complained of backache while lying in bed and on rising.

Risk factors for non-specific low back pain in schoolchildren and their parents: a population based study.

A survey of adolescent schoolchildren and their parents through a self-administered questionnaire was conducted to determine the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) in schoolchildren and their parents and to assess its association with exposure to known and presumed risk factors. A previously validated, self-administered questionnaire was used for collecting information on back pain history, anthropometric measures, physical and sports activity, academic problems, hours of leisure sitting, smoking, and alcohol intake. Schoolchildren between the ages of 13 and 15 in schools of the island of Mallorca and their parents (n=16,394) took part in the study.

Validation of the spanish version of the Roland-Morris questionnaire.

Study Design: Validation of a translated, culturally adapted questionnaire.

Objectives: To translate and culturally adapt the Spanish version of the Roland-Morris Questionnaire (RMQ), and to validate its use for assessing disability in Spanish patients with low back pain (LBP).

Summary Of Background Data: The RMQ is a reliable evaluation instrument for disability, but no validated Spanish version is available.