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A clinical prediction rule for classifying patients with low back pain who demonstrate short-term improvement with mechanical lumbar traction

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Abstract

The objective of the study was to develop a clinical prediction rule for identifying patients with low back pain, who improved with mechanical lumbar traction. A prospective, cohort study was conducted in a physiotherapy clinic at a local hospital. Patients with low back pain, referred to physiotherapy were included in the study. The intervention was a standardized mechanical lumbar traction program, which comprised three sessions provided within 9 days. Patient demographic information, standard physical examination, numeric pain scale, fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire and Oswestry low back pain disability index (pre- and post-intervention) were recorded. A total of 129 patients participated in the study and 25 had positive response to the mechanical lumbar traction. A clinical prediction rule with four variables (non-involvement of manual work, low level fear-avoidance beliefs, no neurological deficit and age above 30 years) was identified. The presence of all four variables (positive likelihood ratio = 9.36) increased the probability of response rate with mechanical lumbar traction from 19.4 to 69.2%. It appears that patients with low back pain who were likely to respond to mechanical lumbar traction may be identified.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rehabilitation Department, Alexandra Hospital, 378 Alexandra Road, Singapore, 159964, Singapore

    Congcong Cai, Yong Hao Pua & Kian Chong Lim

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  1. Congcong Cai
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  2. Yong Hao Pua
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Correspondence to Congcong Cai.

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Cai, C., Pua, Y.H. & Lim, K.C. A clinical prediction rule for classifying patients with low back pain who demonstrate short-term improvement with mechanical lumbar traction. Eur Spine J 18, 554–561 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-009-0909-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-009-0909-9

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