Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
06:28
Biomechanical Changes Related to Low Back Pain: An Innovative Tool for Movement Pattern Assessment and Treatment Evaluation in Rehabilitation
Published on: December 13, 2024
How do we define the condition 'recurrent low back pain'? A systematic review.
Tasha R Stanton1, Jane Latimer, Chris G Maher
1The George Institute for International Health, The University of Sydney, Missenden Road, PO Box M201, Sydney NSW, 2050, Australia. tstanton@george.org.au
Summary
Defining recurrent low back pain (recurrent LBP) lacks consistency across studies. This systematic review found significant variation in how recurrent LBP is defined, hindering research interpretation.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Epidemiology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Recurrent low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent condition impacting numerous individuals.
- The lack of uniform definitions for recurrent LBP complicates the assessment of its prevalence and effective management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and identify the various definitions of recurrent LBP used in scientific literature.
- To assess the consistency and adherence to established definitions in studies concerning recurrent LBP.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, and PEDro.
- Studies investigating cohorts with recurrent LBP or measuring its prevalence were included.
- Two independent reviewers extracted and analyzed definitions of recurrent LBP from eligible studies.
Main Results:
- Out of 43 included studies, 63% provided an explicit definition for recurrent LBP.
- Definitions varied significantly, with only three definitions used in more than one study.
- The frequency of prior LBP episodes was the most common definitional component.
- A mere 8% of studies utilized previously recommended definitions for recurrent LBP.
Conclusions:
- Substantial heterogeneity exists in the definitions of recurrent LBP across published research.
- This variation impedes the accurate interpretation of prevalence rates and treatment outcome data.
- There is a critical need for expert consensus to establish standardized definitions for recurrent LBP.