Specific Treatment of Problems of the Spine (STOPS) Group

16/10/2020

Specific activation of muscles (like transversus abdominis for LBP) is a common but controversial treatment (some say "outdated"). No systematic review to date has reviewed all relevant RCTs that activate TrA in accordance with the University of Queensland research team protocols. Our just published review (Musculoskeletal Science and Practice) shows clinically important effects for TrA activation compared with exercise, multi-modal physiotherapy, conservative medical management and placebo. Clinically we see this approach as being even more effective if targeting people with nociceptive/neuropathic rather than nociplastic pain (https://lnkd.in/enrtnbC). Full pre-print of our systematic review available here https://lnkd.in/ej7DrEq

17/07/2020

Here's an example of motivational interviewing in brief consultations from one of the MI founders in Stephen Rollnick. Listening, empathy, reflection leading to readiness to change

To complete the full module http://learning.bmj.com/learning/module-intro/motivational-interviewing.html?moduleId=10051582 Subscribe to our channel https://w...

23/06/2020

This infographic has helpful and nuanced summaries of current evidence for the mechanisms, epidemiology, diagnosis, outlook, and recommended management for low back pain.

Ref: Vlaeyen et al. (2018), Nature Reviews Disease Primers. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41572-018-0052-1

17/06/2020

“…sheer mass of critics is no guarantee that the criticisms [of original clinical research] have validity”

Lanier & Neal’s thought-provoking “daring discourse" (2020) contends that true academic debate involves decorum, declaring conflicts of interest, and avoiding publication in a different journal to the original research.

Read more at http://ow.ly/Q1Hr50A9TTJ

31/05/2020

Prepare to be nudged! It’s interesting how clinician behaviour can be changed (improved?)...

Soon et al. (2019) demonstrated presenting the high-value options as “default" to GPs in simulated vignettes (see Figure 1) reduced the odds of low-value LBP mx options being selected by 44%.

Clinical education has been largely ineffective for changing clinician behaviour to reduce low-value LBP care. Might embedding behaviour “nudges" into clinical decision support tools improve patient care while preserving clinician autonomy?

https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/28/7/547

14/02/2020

***STUDY COMPLETED*** Have you had low back pain for more than 2 years? Participants are required for a study involving PET/MRI scan and sensory assessment in Clayton, Victoria.

13/11/2019

Anger is common when dealing with pain symptoms. These frustrations are often justified. Unfortunately if a person over-focuses on an issue or has no anger management techniques, the result is often increased pain.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsVq5R_F6RA A simple introduction to anger management

Sign up for our WellCast newsletter for more of the love, lolz and happy! http://goo.gl/GTLhb Did you know that excessive anger can lead to everything from t...

29/10/2019

AProf Jon Ford’s presentation from today at the World LBP Congress in Antwerp presenting new data on the STOPS approach and comparing clinical importance with STarT Back and Cognitive Functional Therapy

AProf Jon Ford’s presentation from today at the World LBP Congress in Antwerp presenting new data on the STOPS approach, introducing STOPS Plus for more comple…

23/09/2019

Does imaging cause harm? Potentially - but this meta-analysis shows that routine imaging for low back pain patients on initial assessment does not have any clinically important adverse impact on outcome

Eur J Intern Med. 2015 Oct;26(8):585-95. doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2015.06.018. Epub 2015 Jul 15. Meta-Analysis; Review

02/09/2019

Petersen et al (2017) have developed a best evidence guide to clinical diagnostic rules for identifying common types of low back disorders. Worth consideration within a biopsychosocial approach; http://ow.ly/qD1v50vEje7

30/08/2019

Ford et al (2019) presents and discusses a series of studies on the Specific Treatment of Problems of the Spine (STOPS) approach and highlights the evolving case supporting individualised physiotherapy for low back pain. Full text available

Low-back pain (LBP) is one of the most burdensome health problems in the world. Guidelines recommend simple treatments such as advice that may result in suboptimal outcomes, particularly when applied to people with complex biopsychosocial barriers to recovery. Individualised physiotherapy has the po...