Lumbar Supports for Prevention and Treatment of Low Back Pain
- 1 February 2001
- journal article
- Published by Wolters Kluwer Health in Spine
- Vol. 26 (4) , 377-386
- https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-200102150-00014
Abstract
A systematic review of randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials. Lumbar supports are used in the treatment of low back pain, but also to prevent the onset (primary prevention) or recurrences of a low back pain episode (secondary prevention). To assess the effects of lumbar sup-ports for prevention and treatment of nonspecific low back pain. The Medline, Cinahl, and Current Contents databases; the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register up to September 1999; and the Embase database up to September 1998 were all searched. References of identified trials and systematic reviews were reviewed and the Science Citation Index used to identify additional trials. Methodologic quality assessment and data extraction were performed by two reviewers independently. A quantitative analysis was performed in which the strength of evidence was classified as strong, moderate, limited or conflicting, and no evidence. Five randomized and two nonrandomized preventive trials and six randomized therapeutic trials were included in the review. Only 4 of the 13 studies were of high quality. There was moderate evidence that lumbar supports are not effective for primary prevention. No evidence was found on the effectiveness of lumbar supports for secondary prevention. The systematic review of therapeutic trials showed that there is limited evidence that lumbar supports are more effective than no treatment, whereas it is still unclear whether lumbar supports are more effective than other interventions for treatment of low back pain. There continues to be a need for high quality randomized trials on the effectiveness of lumbar supports. One of the most essential issues to tackle in these future trials seems to be the realization of adequate compliance.Keywords
This publication has 24 references indexed in Scilit:
- Lumbar Supports for Prevention of Low Back Pain in the WorkplaceJAMA, 1998
- The Effect of a Back Belt on Torso Motion. Survey in an Express Package Delivery Company.Industrial Health, 1997
- Use of Back Belts in Occupational SettingsPTJ: Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal, 1996
- Industrial back belts and low back pain: Mechanisms and outcomesJournal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 1994
- ABDOMINAL BELTS IN INDUSTRY: A POSITION PAPER ON THEIR ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND USEAihaj Journal, 1993
- Reducing back stress to nursing personnel: an ergonomic intervention in a nursing homeErgonomics, 1992
- Evaluation of low back pain and assessment of lumbar corsets with and without back supports.Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 1981
- MULTICENTRE TRIAL OF PHYSIOTHERAPY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SCIATIC SYMPTOMSThe Lancet, 1981
- Auto-Traction for Treatment of Lumbago-Sciatica:A Multicentre Controlled InvestigationActa Orthopaedica, 1980
- Manipulation in treatment of low back pain: a multicentre study.BMJ, 1975