Advances in low-back pain. x

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Nachemson AL. x Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research. (200):266-78, 1985 Nov. At the present time there is an epidemic of low-back pain in most x industrialized countries. The exact origin of pain is unknown, and x probably many structures can play a role. The natural history is extremely x good. Only 10% suffer disabling back pain for more than six weeks; nearly x 60% return to work within one week. The benefits of motion in the healing x process of various connective tissues can be applied also for the back pain sufferer; in addition, the nutrition of the intervertebral disc is x improved by moderate motion. Biomechanical factors with epidemiologically x proven negative effects for the back pain sufferer have been measured and x delineated. Thus, guided activation of large muscle groups is a benefit x for the structures of the back as well as the body's own pain-reducing x enkephalins. Present knowledge includes a detrimental effect of prolonged x inactivation, including long-term bed rest and inactivity, which should be x avoided. Better treatment methods, particularly in the surgical field, x will evolve from technical advances in the diagnostic field. For the x majority of the low-back pain patients who do not need surgical treatment, x help will come in the next decade from a collaborative effort from x politicians, industrial leaders and engineers, physicians, psychologists, x and biomechanicians. x