Low back pain is a major global health problem and the leading cause of disability worldwide . This project will trial a new treatment for back pain that is specifically aimed at risk factors for developing ongoing back problems. Previously shown to be successful in patients suffering persistent back problems, this promising new treatment will be trialled in patients soon after they develop lower back pain as a preventative approach.
Refining And Testing A Promising New Treatment For Chronic Pain.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$743,947.00
Summary
Chronic pain costs Australia about 35 billion dollars a year. Recent scientific discoveries show that treatment aimed at correcting problems in how the brain processes sensory input can reduce pain and disability. This project will clarify some key aspects of these problems and use that information to make final adjustments to an already very promising treatment. We will then test the treatment in a definitive and comprehensive clinical trial.
Why Do People Keep Hurting Their Back: A Longitudinal Study Of Biological, Psychological And Social Predictors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$739,946.00
Summary
We aim to identify why people continue to suffer episodes of back pain. If we can identify factors that predict the course of back pain we can target treatments to the right people to reduce the burden of this common condition. We will follow people for a year after an acute episode. We will measure novel issues like control of trunk muscles, inflammatory response, and how the nervous system deals with pain. We will also investigate how these factors interact with social and psychological issues
Why Do People Develop Chronic Low Back Pain? An Investigation Of Brain Function As A Predictor Of Chronic Low Back Pain.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$96,631.00
Summary
Chronic low back pain is the most disabling condition worldwide. Two objective measures of brain function, electrical signals of brain activity (electroencephalography), and attentional bias observed with eye tracking technology will be measured in a group of participants with acute back pain. These measurements will provide objective markers of brain function that may be predictive of the transition from acute to chronic low back pain, providing new opportunities for treatment.
Understanding Persistent Low Back Pain Where It Resides, In The Brain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$848,972.00
Summary
Low back pain is a leading cause of disability amongst Australians. A critical question is why some people get better after hurting their back while others do not. This project examines whether changes in the brain predict low back pain outcome. This information will rapidly advance our understanding of low back pain and has the potential to facilitate the development of novel therapies.
An Integrated, Multi-system Approach To Understanding Persistent Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,180.00
Summary
Musculoskeletal pain is a major health problem in Australia, with an economic burden second only to cancer. Despite the scale of the problem, there are few effective treatments. This project examines a range of biological mechanisms that could explain why some people get better over time while others experiencing pain do not. The findings of this research will contribute to the development of new treatments that can be targeted to each individual to improve pain and disability.
Muscularskeletal Pain, Injury And Health: Improving Outcomes Through Conservative Management
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$8,123,518.00
Summary
Musculoskeletal pain and injury is a major health issue facing our ageing society. The cost in terms of health care and lost productivity is second only to cardiovascular disease. This Program will address the major musculoskeletal disorders such as spinal pain and osteoarthritis. The team will undertake research with the potential for real and enduring impact on these conditions - from the physiological basis for their occurrence, to trials of innovative drug-free conservative treatments.
Eighty percent of adults will suffer back pain at some time during their life. More than one in three will develop chronic back pain and cost Australia about $9 billion per year. We can now identify those who will develop chronic back pain early. This project will test a new method of treating these people who are risk of chronic back pain. We predict that our short and targeted intervention will stop these people from developing of chronic back pain and this will lead to massive savings to the ....Eighty percent of adults will suffer back pain at some time during their life. More than one in three will develop chronic back pain and cost Australia about $9 billion per year. We can now identify those who will develop chronic back pain early. This project will test a new method of treating these people who are risk of chronic back pain. We predict that our short and targeted intervention will stop these people from developing of chronic back pain and this will lead to massive savings to the Australian communityRead moreRead less
RESTORE - Individualised Movement Rehabilitation And Movement Sensor Biofeedback For Chronic, Disabling Low Back Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,214,385.00
Summary
Low back pain is the leading cause of disability in Australia, with an enormous cost burden for society. Available treatments have resulted in only moderate improvements that typically do not last. We propose to investigate the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of two new treatments that have shown promising early results: i) an individualised movement and cognitive rehabilitation approach (‘Cognitive Functional Therapy’) and ii) biofeedback from wireless movement sensors worn on the spine
Whiplash Injury: Mechanisms, Prediction And Directives For Improved Management Strategies.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$772,359.00
Summary
Whiplash is a costly condition with many people developing chronic symptoms. This research aims to improve the understating of involved mechanisms, diagnosis and classification of the condition from the time of injury until either recovery or the development of persistent pain. This will facilitate the early identification of those at risk of poor recovery and will lay the foundations for the development of improved early management, particularly in primary care.