Low Back Pain

Lower back pain andit’s impact on our lives

Professor Manuela Ferreira is a highly ranked researcher internationally in the low back pain field and is conducting studies at the University of Sydney to investigate better ways to treat this condition. Depending on diagnosis, simple or more complex interventions could help to improve symptoms. However, what works best for whom is still uncertain!

Usually low back pain cannot be attributed to any specific cause and is termed non-specific. Research endorses self-management intervention for non-specific low back pain, as it can improve pain and function. However, the best way of delivering self-management to patients is still unknown.

Text messages aid self-management of chronic diseases (e.g. cardiovascular diseases and diabetes) and improve healthy behaviour. Professor Ferreira and her team are investigating if text messages can also support recovery from low back pain.

The study is named ‘TEXT4myBACK’ and is approved by the Northern Sydney Local Health District Ethics Committee. The study is looking for adults who - live in Australia - have low back pain that is causing at least moderate interference with their everyday life and have a mobile phone.

Participants are randomised to receive one of the two types of text message interventions, which provide information and education on back pain.

For further information, please visit the TEXT4myBACK website.

Professor Ferreira is also leading a world first randomised placebo-controlled study to establish how effective surgery is for managing lumbar stenosis – the SUcceSS study.

Lumbar stenosis causes low back pain and leg symptoms with patients experiencing leg pain that is worse when they walk or stand, and better when they sit down or bend over. It is commonly managed with decompression surgery, especially when other treatments have failed. This surgery involves a small incision into the skin and muscles and the removal of small portions of bone and ligament to increase the lumbar spinal canal.

However, there is no strong evidence supporting decompression surgery. The SUcceSS study aims to change that! It compares two types of spinal surgery; one that removes bone and ligament (decompression) and another that does not (placebo). The results will determine if the removal of bone and ligament is necessary to relieve symptoms or not.

The SUcceSS study is funded by the Australian Government and is approved by the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Ethics Committee. A high-level of safety monitoring ensures participants’ wellbeing during the participation in the study. The study is looking for people in NSW and Victoria that: - Are older than 50 years - Have pain, numbness, and/or fatigue in or below the buttocks that is worse with walking and better when sitting or leaning forward for at least 3 months - Are eligible to receive decompression surgery.

For further information, please visit the SUcceSS website.

If you are keen to participate, please contact the research team at: ibjr.success@sydney.edu.au