Better Backs Research to be conducted in East Auckland

It is estimated that 70 to 85% of all people will suffer from back pain at some time their life. For some the back pain is a nagging inconvenience, for others it feels like an undeserved life sentence of pain and disability. In New Zealand alone, treatment and disability costs resulting from back pain are in the order of hundreds of millions of dollars every year.

Sometimes the pain is acute and brought on from a particular incident, whereas other times it may arise in the absence of any clear event. Often the pain will subside after a week or so. Occasionally however, the pain may continue well after the rest of the body has recovered, resulting in a chronic pain condition. It is also not uncommon for the pain to return after subsiding for a period of time. Unfortunately we still have a lot to learn about low back pain, which often leaves the cause of the pain unidentified and the patient frustrated and exhausted.

Researching differences between low back pain sufferers and pain-free individuals is one of the best ways of gaining a better understanding of this painful condition. This knowledge will ultimately assist in better diagnoses and better treatments for sufferers of low back pain.

This month in East Auckland researcher Mr. Jamie Mannion will be aiming to research over 20 people who suffer from, or frequently experience, low back pain. “We’re asking people to give just 2 hours of their time, in order to hopefully come up with information that will eventually be used to help others” he said. “If you suffer from low back pain, be it chronic or intermittent, then you may be a valuable participant for us.”

Jamie, an exercise scientist at the University of Auckland Exercise Rehabilitation Clinic, currently works with patients suffering from various medical, psychological and physical conditions. He is particularly interested in talking to people who suffer from non-specific low back pain so that he can identify differences between them and pain-free individuals. “The thigh muscles are particularly important when considering back pain as they greatly influence the pelvis and the lower spine. However, while we know these muscles are altered with low back pain, we don’t really understand or know the extent or effects of these alterations.  My research will be looking at the functioning of these muscles in relation to back pain.”

By giving us a little of your time you’ll be adding to a body of knowledge that aims to make life more bearable for all us back pain sufferers.
For more information please call J....