Risk stratification is an approach which has been recommended across a number of international guidelines for the management of back pain.
To assess whether the use of risk stratification with a matched treatment pathway improves clinical outcomes, when compared with usual care or other interventions, in adults with acute back pain.
A comprehensive search was conducted of the databases Medline, Embase, PEDro, CINAHL and Cochrane Library in November 2022. Studies of adults with back pain of less than 3 months’ duration and who had been stratified according to their level of risk of a poor functional outcome and provided with a treatment matched to their level of risk were included. Participants with specific and/or serious spinal pathologies were excluded.
Five trials involving 3519 participants were included. Meta-analysis found very-low certainty evidence that the use of a risk stratification approach with matched treatment may lead to a very small reduction in pain levels at 3–6 months compared with usual care (MD -0.62, 95 % CI -0.88, -0.36). These results did not achieve clinical significance. No difference was found for the use of risk stratification compared to usual care for disability (MD -1.52, 95 % CI -4.15, 1.11).
The use of risk stratification with matched treatment may be just as worthwhile as usual care for acute back pain, however the evidence is very uncertain. Further high quality research is required to confirm whether risk stratification is a useful approach for this population.
CRD42022379987
Physical activity in natural environments, such as trail running, is a way to nurture physical and mental health. However, running has an inherent risk of musculoskeletal injuries.
To investigate the prevalence of running-related injuries (RRI) and cramps, and to describe the personal and training characteristics of Brazilian trail runners.
A total of 1068 trail runners were included in this observational cross-sectional study. The participants had at least six months of trail running experience. The data were collected between April 2019 and February 2020 through an online and self-reported survey.
The point prevalence of RRIs was 39.2 % (95 % credible interval [CrI]: 36.3, 42.1). The body region with the highest point prevalence was the knee. The 12-month period prevalence of RRIs was 69.2 % (95 %CrI: 66.4, 72.0). The body region with the highest 12-month period prevalence was the lower leg. 1- and 12-month period prevalence of cramps was 19.5 % (95 %CrI: 17.1, 21.9) and 36.0 % (95 %CrI: 33.0, 38.8), respectively. Triceps surae was the muscle most affected by cramps.
Two in 5 (40 %) trail runners reported being injured at the time of data collection, and about 2 of 3 reported previous RRIs in the last 12 months. The most prevalent injured body regions were the knee and the lower leg. One in 5 trail runners reported cramps in the last month, increasing to 36 % in the last 12 months. Knowing better the characteristics of the population and the burden of health conditions may inform better decisions regarding implementation actions toward trail running practice.
A mixed methods study which aimed to evaluate the influence of Good Life with osteoArthritis Denmark (GLA:D®) on physical activity participation, including perceived capability, barriers, and facilitators in people with knee osteoarthritis.
Quantify changes in physical activity participation at 3- and 12-months for people with knee osteoarthritis who participated in an education and exercise-therapy program (GLA:D®).
A mixed-methods study involving 44 participants with knee osteoarthritis who completed GLA:D®. Guided by the Theoretical Domains Framework, 19 were interviewed, with transcripts analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. University of California Los Angeles physical activity scores were dichotomised as ‘more’ (≥7) or ‘less’ active (≤6), and compared between baseline and 3- and 12-months using McNemar's test. Motivation and confidence to exercise (0–10 scale); fear of knee joint damage with exercise (yes/no); and Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS) were evaluated.
Four overarching themes were identified: prior to GLA:D® 1) fear of knee joint damage, and scarcity of exercise and physical activity information prior to GLA:D®; and following GLA:D® 2) varied exercise-therapy and physical activity participation; 3) facilitators including reduced fear of knee damage, increased confidence, routine, strategies, and support; and 4) ongoing barriers including persistent knee pain, comorbidities, cost, and lack of opportunity and motivation. There was no difference in the proportion of ‘more’ active participants between baseline (41%) and at 3-months (37%, p = 0.774) or 12-months (35%, p = 0.375). The proportion with fear of damage reduced from baseline (50%) to 3-months (5%) and 12-months (21%). Self-reported motivation (9.1/10) and confidence (9.1/10) to exercise at 3-months were high, and all KOOS subscales improved from baseline to 3-months (effect sizes = 0.41–0.58) and 12-months (effect sizes = 0.29–0.66).
Varied and often inadequate physical activity participation following GLA:D® indicates more targeted interventions to address ongoing barriers may be required.