Elisabeth Skargren

One-Year Follow-up Comparison of the Cost and Effectiveness of Chiropractic and Physiotherapy as Primary Management for Back Pain : Subgroup Analysis, Recurrence, and Additional Health Care Utilization

Study Design. A randomized trial was conducted in which patients with back and neck pain, visiting a general practitioner, were allocated to chiropractic or physiotherapy. Objectives. To compare outcome and costs of chiropractic and physiotherapy as primary treatment for patients with back and neck pain, with special reference to subgroups, recurrence rate, and additional health care use at follow‐up evaluation 12 months after treatment. Summary of Background Data. Earlier studies on the effect of spinal manipulation have shown inconsistent results. Mostly they include only short‐term follow‐up periods, and few cost‐effectiveness analyses have been made. Methods. A group of 323 patients aged 18‐60 years who had no contraindications to manipulation and who had not been treated within the previous month were included. Outcome measures were changes in Oswestry scores, pain intensity, and general health; recurrence rate; and direct and indirect costs. Results. No differences were detected in health improvement, costs, or recurrence rate between the two groups. According to Oswestry score, chiropractic was more favorable for patients with a current pain episode of less than 1 week (5%) and physiotherapy for patients with a current pain episode of greater than 1 month (6.8%). Nearly 60% of the patients reported two or more recurrences. More patients in the chiropractic group (59%) than in the physiotherapy group (41%) sought additional health care. Costs varied considerably among individuals and subgroups; the direct costs were lower for physiotherapy in a few subgroups. Conclusions. Effectiveness and costs of chiropractic or physiotherapy as primary treatment were similar for the total population, but some differences were seen according to subgroups. Back problems often recurred, and additional health care was common. Implications of the result are that treatment policy and clinical decision models must consider subgroups and that the problem often is recurrent. Models must be implemented and tested.

Clinical course in patients seeking primary care for back or neck pain : a prospective 5-year follow-up of outcome and health care consumption with subgroup analysis

Study Design. Prospective follow-up. Objective. To describe the 5-year clinical course in a cohort of patients treated for back or neck pain in primary care and compare results with the 1-year outcome both for the whole group and for subgroups. Summary of Background Data. A randomized study showed a decrease in perceived pain and disability after treatment by chiropractic or physiotherapy, but many reported recurrence or continual pain at the 1-year follow-up. Knowledge of the clinical course over longer follow-up periods is limited. Methods. A 5-year follow-up questionnaire was sent to 314 individuals. Main outcome measures were pain intensity, Oswestry score, and general health. Recurrence, health care consumption, and other measures were described. Results. Fifty-two percent of respondents reported pain (visual analog scale, >10 mm) and back-related disability (Oswestry, >10%) at the 5-year follow-up. This was similar to 1-year results, and 84% of these were the same individuals. Sixty-three percent reported recurrence or continual pain, and 32% reported health care consumption at the 5-year follow-up. Conclusions. In a cohort of individuals of working age seeking primary care for nonspecific back or neck pain, it can be expected that about half of the population will report pain and disability at the 5-year follow-up. A significant proportion will report recurrence or continual pain and health care consumption. Pain and disability were associated with recurrence or continual pain and health care consumption. Further analysis is needed to identify additional predictors for 5-year outcome, taking into account 1-year follow-up results. Since many patients will have recurrence or continual pain, health policies and clinical decision models for long-term outcome must allow for these aspects.

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF RANDOMISED CLINICAL TRIALS ON NECK PAIN AND TREATMENT EFFICACY. A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

The efficacy of physiotherapy or chiropractic treatment for patients with neck pain was analysed by reviewing 27 randomised clinical trials published 196-1995. Three different methods were employed: systematic analyses of; methodological quality; comparison of effect size; analysis of inclusion criteria, intervention and outcome according to The Disablement Process model. The quality of most of the studies was low; only one-third scored 50 or more of a possible 100 points. Positive outcomes were noted for 18 of the investigations, and the methodological quality was high in studies using electromagnetic therapy, manipulation, or active physiotherapy. High methodological quality was also noted in studies with traction and acupuncture, however, the interventions had either no effect or a negative effect on outcome. Pooling data and calculation of effect size showed that treatments used in the studies were effective for pain, range of motion, and activities of daily living. Inclusion criteria, intervention, and outcome were based on impairment in most of the analysed investigations. Broader outcome assessments probably would have revealed relationships between treatment effect and impairment, functional limitation and disability.

Predictive factors for 1-year outcome of low-back and neck pain in patients treated in primary care: comparison between the treatment strategies chiropractic and physiotherapy

Abstract The inability to predict outcome in patients with low back/neck pain leads to inappropriate or unnecessary treatment. The aims of the study were to identify prognostic factors for disability at 1‐year follow‐up in patients with back pain visiting primary care, and to compare the effect of these in two treatment strategies – chiropractic and physiotherapy. Data were taken from a randomised trial on patients with back/neck pain visiting the general practitioner, in which patients were allocated to chiropractic and physiotherapy as primary management. Three hundred and twenty‐three patients, aged 18–60 years, who had no contraindications to manipulation and who had not been treated within the previous month were included in the study. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify prognostic factors. Dependent variables were mean Oswestry score and mean change in Oswestry score at 12‐month follow‐up. The multiple regression analysis revealed five significant (P<0.001–0.01) prognostic factors; duration of current episode, Oswestry score at entry, expectations of treatment, number of localisations, and well‐being. Besides, the regression coefficients for the significant factors were compared between the two treatment strategies. No significant difference in effect or regression coefficients for the prognostic factors were seen between the two treatment strategies. Twelve per cent of the patients had poor prognostic factors (duration≥1 month, more than one localisation, low expectations of treatment and low well‐being) at entry. These patients had a mean Oswestry score above 20% at 1‐year follow‐up. Clinical decision models for the management of patients with back pain visiting primary care that consider prognostic factors need to be implemented and prospectively evaluated.

Evaluation of therapeutic riding (Sweden)/hippotherapy (United States). A single-subject experimental design study replicated in eleven patients with multiple sclerosis.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether therapeutic riding (TR, Sweden)hippotherapy (HT, United States) may affect balance, gait, spasticity, functional strength, coordination, pain, self-rated level of muscle tension (SRLMT), activities of daily living (ADL), and health-related quality of life. Eleven patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were studied in a single-subject experimental design (SSED) study, type A-B-A. The intervention comprised ten weekly TR/HT sessions of 30 minutes each. The subjects were measured a maximum of 13 times. Physical tests were: the Berg balance scale, walking a figure of eight, the timed up and go test, 10 m walking, the modified Ashworth scale, the Index of Muscle Function, the Birgitta Lindmark motor assessment, part B, and individual measurements. Self-rated measures were: the Visual Analog Scale for pain, a scale for SRLMT, the Patient-Specific Functional Scale for ADL, and the SF-36. Data were analyzed visually, semi-statistically and considering clinical significance. Results showed improvement for ten subjects in one or more of the variables, particularly balance, and some improvements were also seen in pain, muscle tension, and ADL. Changes in SF-36 were mostly positive, with an improvement in Role-Emotional seen in eight patients. Conclusively, balance and Role-Emotional were the variables most often improved, but TR/HT appeared to benefit the subjects differently.

Predictive factors for 1-year and 5-year outcome for disability in a working population of patients with low back pain treated in primary care.

Abstract Many patients seeking primary care for low back pain continue to report disability several years after their initial visit. The aims of this study were to assess the independent predictive value of a number of potential predictive factors for disability at the 1‐year and 5‐year follow‐ups, and to examine whether prediction models were improved by replacing baseline health‐state‐related variables with corresponding variables after treatment. A further aim was to describe possible differences between those on sick leave, early retirement or disability pension, and those who were not. Baseline factors were age, gender, self‐reported physical‐activity‐related and work‐related factors, expectations of treatment, similar problems previously, duration of episode, more than one localization, sick leave, pain frequency, disability, and well‐being. The study sample comprised 148 participants in a previous randomized trial who were eligible for sick‐leave benefits. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictive factors. At the 5‐year follow‐up, 37% (n = 19/52) of the patients with disability were on sick leave or were receiving early retirement or disability pension. For those without disability the corresponding figure was 9% (n = 8/92). Being a woman, duration of the current episode, similar problems during the previous 5 years, exercise level before the current episode, pain frequency at baseline, and disability after treatment emerged as predictive factors for disability at the 5‐year follow‐up. Replacing baseline health‐state‐related measures with corresponding measures after the treatment period, and adding physical‐activity‐related and possibly work‐related factors might improve the likelihood of predicting future disability.

Course of back pain in primary care : a prospective study of physical measures

OBJECTIVE To describe physical measures used in patients with back pain when no specific treatment is given, to examine associations between change over time in these measures and changes in pain and back-related disability, and to study the value of physical measures at baseline and at a 4-week follow-up to predict outcome at 12 months. DESIGN A prospective consecutive study. SUBJECTS Forty-four patients presenting with low back pain in primary care. METHODS The patients underwent a physical examination at baseline and at 4 weeks. Follow-up was carried out using questionnaires until 12 months. Linear regression was used to identify predictors. RESULTS Most measures had improved significantly at the 4-week follow-up. Thoracolumbar rotation, isometric endurance back extensors, and fingertip-to-floor distance at 4 weeks were significant predictors for pain intensity and back-related disability at the 12-month follow-up. Eighteen out of 44 patients reported an increase in pain after the assessment of the physical measures at baseline. This group of patients improved more in physical measures between baseline and the 4-week follow-up. CONCLUSION Physical measures assessed at the 4-week follow-up, but not at baseline, could provide important additional information for identifying those patients at risk for worse outcome in pain or back-related disability at 12 months.

Prognostic factors for perceived pain and function at one-year follow-up in primary care patients with neck pain

Purpose: To identify prognostic factors for perceived pain and function with focus at one-year follow-up in primary care patients treated for non-specific neck pain. Methods: A prospective study was performed including 193 neck pain patients. Before and after treatment period, and 12 months after the start date for treatment, patients completed a questionnaire including background data and aspects of pain, function and general health. Linear multiple regression analysis was used to identify prognostic factors with the dependent variables Oswestry score and pain intensity at 12-month follow-up. Response rate 81%. Results: At 12-month follow-up, Oswestry score identified four prognostic factors: pain intensity; well-being; expectations of treatment; and duration of current episode. Adjusted R2 for the model was 0.32, and 20% of the patients had three of the four prognostic factors at entry, indicating risk of poor outcome. The dependent variable pain intensity revealed three prognostic factors: Oswestry score; duration of current episode; and similar problem during the previous five years. Adjusted R2 was 0.24, and 60% of the patients had two of the three prognostic factors at entry, indicating risk of poor outcome. Conclusions: Different prognostic factors (with the exception of duration of current episode) were identified by the two outcome variables. Thus the results suggest that it should be taken into account whether an impairment or disability outcome is used.

Reliability of clinical balance tests and subjective ratings in dizziness and disequilibrium

The aim was to assess (i) the test–retest and inter-rater reliability of, and (ii) the relationships between, commonly used clinical balance tests and subjective ratings in subjects with dizziness and disequilibrium. Fifty subjects (26 men and 24 women, mean age 63 years) with dizziness and disequilibrium following acute unilateral vestibular loss or central neurological dysfunction were tested with static and dynamic clinical balance tests, visual analogue scales (VAS), University of California Los Angeles Dizziness Questionnaire (UCLA-DQ), Dizziness Beliefs Scale (DBS), European Quality of Life questionnaire (EQ-5D), Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Most tests showed good test–retest and inter-rater reliability. Few correlations were seen between objective and subjective tests, but several correlations were found between the different subjective instruments. Sharpened Rombergs test eyes closed, standing on foam eyes closed, standing on one leg eyes open and walking in a figure-of-eight are recommended as reliable and appropriate clinical balance tests in subjects with dizziness and disequilibrium. Subjects with central lesions may have difficulties when rating their symptoms on VAS. Total scores rather than scores for separate items are recommended for UCLA-DQ and DHI.

Effects of an exercise program on musculoskeletal symptoms and physical capacity among nursing staff

Musculoskeletal disorders are a major health problem, and nursing staff are often seen as a risk group. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a weekly exercise program among nursing staff on musculoskeletal symptoms and to study the relation to changes in physical capacity. A total of 106 nurses and nursing aides from four geriatric wards were invited to participate; 86 accepted. A cross‐over design was used. The staff from two wards were assigned to an exercise period and the staff from the other wards to a control period for the first intervention period. After a wash‐out period, the intervention changed. For the exercise periods the staff were invited to participate in an exercise program twice a week for 8 weeks. In total 50 subjects participated more than 8 times regularly during the exercise periods (participants≤8 times regular participation, nonparticipants≤8). During the control periods 78 subjects attended without intervention. Assessments were made with a standardized questionnaire for analysis of musculoskeletal and psychosomatic symptoms, testing of muscle strength in m. quadriceps with a Cybex dynamometer, and testing of cardiovascular capacity with a Dynavite computerized exercise bicycle before and after the exercise periods. The muscle strength in m. quadriceps increased more during the exercise periods compared with the control periods, explained primarily by the subgroup of nonregular exercisers and those ≥40 years of age. The number of musculoskeletal symptoms tended to decrease more in the subgroup of nonregular exercisers (those who exercised less than once a week in their spare time) during the exercise periods compared with the nonregular exercisers during the control periods. Comparisons within groups showed a decrease in the number of musculoskeletal symptoms within the exercise periods, explained primarily by a decrease among the participants rather than among the nonparticipants. The decrease within the participants was explained primarily by the subgroup of nonregular exercisers and those ≥40 years of age. An increase in cardiovascular capacity and a tendency to increase in muscle strength in m. quadriceps were seen among the participants, explained primarily by the effect in the subgroup of nonregular exercisers. The study suggests that a moderate weekly exercise program, performed in a group, among nursing staff affects physical capacity and the number of musculoskeletal symptoms for subjects who are nonregular exercisers and probably subjects ≥40 years of age.