Exploring the origin of low back pain sub-classification: a scoping review protocol

Area of Science:

• Clinical Musculoskeletal Research
• Pain Management & Rehabilitation

Background:

• Low back pain (LBP) presents a significant global health and economic challenge.
• Duration-based classification (acute, subacute, chronic) is common in LBP management.
• Existing studies exhibit considerable variation in defining LBP duration, leading to heterogeneity in findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map current working definitions for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain (LBP) duration.
• To identify the origins and rationale behind the timeframes used in LBP classification.
• To provide insight into the variability of duration-based LBP definitions.

Main Methods:

• Scoping review methodology employed.
• Searches conducted across MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases.
• Inclusion of studies with non-specific LBP and a stated rationale for duration definitions; English language publications only.

Main Results:

• Analysis of diverse working definitions for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain (LBP).
• Identification of the sources and justifications for various LBP duration timeframes.
• Synthesis of the background contributing to the inconsistency in LBP duration classification.

Conclusions:

• The current landscape of LBP duration definitions is highly variable.
• Clarifying these definitions and their origins is essential for improving LBP research consistency.
• This review highlights the need for standardized approaches to LBP duration classification.