UQ study to examine low back pain

Volunteers are urgently required for a University of Queensland study into low back pain.

Researchers within UQ’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences are examining the balance strategy of people with low back pain.

“Back pain is a common affliction with enormous personal, social and economic consequences. Each year in Australia it affects about five percent of people and more than $2 billion is spent on low back pain related problems. For the majority, the cause is unknown,” said PhD student Nicola Mok, who is completing the research as part of her studies.

“We know that people with low back pain often have problems with their balance, but we’re still not sure what causes the dysfunction.”

Ms Mok said a previous UQ study showed sufferers were less able to maintain balance in situations where hip movements were required to keep their body stable.

“One possible reason for this is that they reduce movement of their lumbar spine or lower back,” she said.

“In this study, we plan to investigate the movement of different body segments, mainly the hips and lower back, to ascertain if this is the case.

“Hopefully, by having a better understanding of the condition, effective treatments and preventions can be identified to reduce physical, emotional and financial sufferings.”

Participants need to be between 18 and 40-years-old and have a history of back pain requiring treatment or sick leave. They must not have suffered gross damage to the spine, such as a spinal fracture or other injury requiring surgery.

They will be required to perform arm movements as well as loading and unloading tasks, causing a minor and quick disturbance to their balance.

The three-hour session is non-invasive and will take place at UQ St Lucia’s Human Neuroscience Lab.

Associate Professor Paul Hodges and Dr Sandra Brauer of UQ’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences are supervising the research project.

People interested in participating, should contact Nicola Mok (telephone 07 3365 4567 or email n.mok@shrs.uq.edu.au).

Media: For further information, contact Nicola Mok (telephone 07 3365 4567, email n.mok@shrs.uq.edu.au) or Joanne van Zeeland at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2619).