Weight loss is commonly recommended as a treatment for back pain. However, there is little literature to support this. A recent systematic review has identified only studies relating to bariatric surgery. There are no other studies that address whether weight loss improves back pain.

Forty-five consecutive consenting patients were recruited following enrolment in a tertiary multidisciplinary weight management program. These patients were referred primarily for treatment of obesity. The program consisted of consultation and on-going supervision by a sub-specialty weight management physician, and group and individual sessions addressing diet, exercise and behaviour modification. Patients were assessed by independent observers prior to start of program and at twelve weeks into the program with standardised and validated outcomes tools measuring baseline factors, back pain and related functional disability at twelve weeks follow-up.

Prior to starting the program, forty-two patients (93%) reported some degree of low back pain of which 40% rated their pain as moderate (n = 12) or severe (n = 6). Using the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index, 73% patients reported moderate (n = 18) or severe disability (n = 15). At twelve weeks, thirty-seven (82%) patients were available for assessment. There were significant improvement in VAS pain scores (mean change = 1.5, 95% CI: 0.7 to 2.4) and in Oswestry Low Back Disability Index (mean change= 8.6, 95% CI: 3.9 to 13.2). There were significant reductions in the prevalence of moderate or severe back pain (p = 0.04) and moderate or severe disability (p = 0.007) in the entire group.

This is the first study to provide empirical evidence on the positive effects of a weight loss program on back pain. These results lay the groundwork for longer follow-up and comparative studies.

Back pain is a complex problem affecting the majority of the population at some point in their life. This cross-sectional study evaluated patients presenting to a tertiary spine clinic with a primary complaint of back pain for modifiable lifestyle factors which may be associated with their back pain. Patients were also asked if any of these lifestyle factors had been addressed by primary care practitioners prior to referral to the spine surgeon’s office.

The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to evaluate the modifiable lifestyle factors which may be associated with back pain in patients presenting to a tertiary spine clinic with a primary complaint of back pain and to compare these lifestyle factors with the general population. A secondary objective is to determine whether patients with back pain were given any instructions with regard to modifiable lifestyle factors by their primary care practitioner.

Consecutive patients presenting to the orthopaedic spine surgery clinic at the Ottawa Hospital – Civic Campus are asked to complete a questionnaire upon presentation to the surgeon’s clinic and prior to their visit with the surgeon. Data being collected includes Body Mass Index, smoking history, physical activity history, perceived stress, and disability. Information is also being collected on sources of information about back pain including instructions given by primary care practitioners (physician, chiropractor, physiotherapist, massage therapist, acupuncturist, naturopath, and other). Data will be analyzed to determine the difference in modifiable risk factors between patients presenting to the spine surgery clinic and the general population. Data will also be tabulated for numbers of patients being given information on modifiable lifestyle factors by primary care practitioners.

To date fifty-two patients have completed the questionnaire. A significant difference has been noted between the number of morbidly obese (BMI > 30) patients presenting to the clinic and the general population. It has been noted that less than 20% of primary care physicians have talked about lifestyle modification with their patients prior to referring them to a spine surgeon.

It will be important to know what modifiable lifestyle risk factors this group of patients possesses and which of these modifiable lifestyle risk factors are actually being addressed by primary care practitioners prior to referral to spine surgeons.

The current waiting list for an appointment with a spine surgeon at the Ottawa Hospital is six to eighteen months. If surgeons can help primary care practitioners address some modifiable lifestyle factors with their patients prior to their referral, waiting times may be reduced or at the very least made more comfortable for patients.

Independent reviewers performed systematic reviews of the abstracts presented at the annual meeting of the ISSLS and the CSS. Papers employing blinded or independent review of outcome were the strongest predictor of publication and papers employing this had an adjusted odds ratio of 4.7 for being published compared to those papers that did not. Other significant factors include use of an experimental design, statistically positive result, and basic science research.

To identify factors associated with eventual peer-reviewed publication in spinal research presented at national and international meetings.

This review has highlighted factors that are associated with eventual peer-reviewed publication. It will also present comparisons between the International Society for Study of the Lumbar Spine (ISSLS) and the Canadian Spine Society (CSS).

Independent reviewers performed systematic reviews of the abstracts presented at the annual meeting of the ISSLS and the CSS. All abstracts reviewed were categorized into type of research and aspects of research quality were identified. A medline database, blinded to the results of the review, was performed to identify abstracts that went onto peer-reviewed publication.

Univariate and multivariate analyses reviewed that blinding, use of an experimental design, basic science or biomechanical research, and a statistically significant positive result were significant predictors of eventual publication. Papers employing blinded or independent review of outcome were the strongest predictor of publication and papers employing this had an adjusted odds ratio of 4.7 for being published compared to those papers that did not. Other significant factors include use of an experimental design, statistically positive result, and basic science research. Overall, 23% of ISSLS’ abstracts were published within one year and 67% within two years. In contrast, 6% and 13% of CSS abstracts were published within one and two years respectively.