Evaluation of Nonspecific Low Back Pain Using a New Detailed Visual Analogue Scale for Patients in Motion, Standing, and Sitting: Characterizing Nonspecific Low Back Pain in Elderly Patients

Abstract

Because we have a clinical impression that elderly patients have low back pain while in motion and standing, but less pain when sitting, we investigate characteristics of nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP), using a new detailed visual analog scale (VAS) scoring system. One hundred eighty-nine patients with NSLBP were divided into an elderly group (≥65 years old, n = 56) and a young group (<65 years old, n = 133). Low back pain was evaluated by a traditional VAS scoring system, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and a new detailed VAS scoring system in which pain is independently evaluated in three different postural situations (in motion, standing, and sitting). No significant differences were observed in traditional VAS and ODI scores between the two groups. The results of the detailed VAS showed no significant differences between the two groups while in motion and standing. However, the elderly group showed significantly lower VAS score while sitting compared to the young group. In this study of the first use of a new detailed VAS scoring system, differences in characteristics of NSLBP between elderly and young patients were successfully detected. This minor modification of the traditional VAS may be useful for characterizing and evaluating low back pain.

Efficacy of Ozone Neucleoplasty against Physiotherapy in Cases of Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain

“…The results show that the effectiveness of no treatment depends neither on the gender nor on the age of the patients, which conflicts the findings of Oder et al (13) that the patients younger than 50 years respond better to ozone Neucleoplasty. However, there are recent reports (28) which suggest that VAS and ODI scores are insensitive in detecting differences between young and old patients.…”

Evaluation of Long-term Clinical Results of Percutaneous Plasma Disk Coagulation Treatment in Lumbar and Cervical Disk Herniation

“…Various classifications are used to evaluate pain and operative success in these patients such as VAS, Oswestry, and SF-36. 1,5,17 In the VAS evaluation of the patients who underwent plasma disk coagulation, it has been observed that improvement is more rapid than in conservative treatment. 1 All of our patients previously had 1 course of physiotherapy and experienced no significant radiculopathic decrease.…”

Low Back Pain in Patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis-Hemodynamic and electrophysiological study of the lumbar multifidus muscles

“…*p<0.01. . Aoki et al demonstrated using a new detailed VAS system that nonspecific LBP in elderly patients was present in motion, besides during standing and sitting 18) . Recently, LBP in motion was related to an increase in the nerve growth factor level in the intervertebral disc, which led to discogenic LBP 19) .…”