What triggers an episode of acute low back pain? A protocol of a replication case-crossover study.

Objective: To describe all the procedures of a study that will replicate a previous case-crossover study investigating physical and psychosocial transient exposure risk factors for triggering an episode of acute non-specific low back pain (LBP) at emergency departments in an emerging country.

Methods: This case-crossover study will recruit 350 patients, aged between 18 and 80 years, with a new episode of acute non-specific LBP seeking care at emergency departments from public hospitals in Brazil. We will collect information about exposure to a range of physical (eg, awkward postures, lifting children or animals, vigorous physical activity) and psychosocial triggers (eg, distraction, tiredness, alcohol consumption) that were examined in the previous study.

Predicting pain recovery in patients with acute low back pain: a study protocol for a broad validation of a prognosis prediction model.

Background: The clinical course of acute low back pain (LBP) is generally favourable; however, there is significant variability in the prognosis of these patients. A clinical prediction model to predict the likelihood of pain recovery at three time points for patients with acute LBP has recently been developed. The aim of this study is to conduct a broad validation test of this clinical prediction model, by testing its performance in a new sample of patients and a different setting.

Medium term effects of kinesio taping in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Kinesio taping is a commonly used intervention for patients with chronic low back pain. However, the medium term effects of kinesio taping in these patients are unknown.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of kinesio taping in patients with chronic low back pain after 6 months from randomization.

What do physical therapists think about evidence-based practice? A systematic review.

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) has been widely implemented in different health-related areas. Several studies investigated important characteristics in EBP by physiotherapists and systematic review is needed. Therefore the aim of this study is to describe the current evidence on EBP knowledge, skills, behaviour, opinions and barriers by physiotherapists.

Kinesio taping to generate skin convolutions is not better than sham taping for people with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomised trial.

Question: For people with chronic low back pain, does Kinesio Taping, applied according to the treatment manual to create skin convolutions, reduce pain and disability more than a simple application without convolutions?

Design: Randomised trial with concealed allocation, intention-to-treat analysis and blinded assessment of some outcomes.

Participants: 148 participants with chronic non-specific low back pain.

Intervention: Experimental group participants received eight sessions (over four weeks) of Kinesio Taping applied according to the Kinesio Taping Method treatment manual (ie, 10 to 15% tension applied in flexion to create skin convolutions in neutral).

Effectiveness of back school versus McKenzie exercises in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Back School and McKenzie methods are popular active treatment approaches that include both exercises and information for patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Back School and McKenzie methods in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.

Design: The study was a prospectively registered, 2-arm randomized controlled trial with a blinded assessor.