Is Acute Lower Back Pain Associated with Heart Rate Variability Changes? A Protocol for Systematic Reviews

Area of Science:

• Musculoskeletal Health
• Pain Management
• Physiological Monitoring

Background:

• Acute lower back pain (ALBP) is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition with sudden onset, potentially leading to chronic pain.
• Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is utilized to assess physiological responses to pain, but its specific application in ALBP lacks a defined consensus.
• Existing research has not established clear guidelines for using HRV to evaluate ALBP or the impact of interventions on this relationship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and analyze the relationship between Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and acute lower back pain (ALBP).
• To evaluate the effectiveness of HRV as a measurement tool for ALBP.
• To explore the influence of various interventions on the HRV-ALBP relationship.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review protocol was registered (CRD42023437160) and adheres to PRISMA guidelines.
• Literature search conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases.
• Inclusion criteria focused on studies involving adult samples experiencing ALBP.

Main Results:

• The review protocol aims to identify and synthesize existing research on the HRV-ALBP association.
• Analysis will focus on the correlation between HRV metrics and ALBP severity or characteristics.
• The impact of different therapeutic interventions on HRV in ALBP patients will be examined.

Conclusions:

• Establishing a clear understanding of the HRV-ALBP relationship is crucial for advancing pain assessment.
• This systematic review will provide insights into optimizing HRV-based protocols for ALBP evaluation.
• Findings could inform the development of novel strategies for early detection and management of acute lower back pain.