Weekly Updates
Lifestyle Risk Factors for Low Back Pain in Teens
A comparison of 80 adolescents with low back
pain and 80 without revealed that physical inactivity, poor posture while completing homework, and prolonged
computer use are each associated with an elevated risk for low back pain.
Forward Head Posture Makes Balancing More Taxing on the Brain
Forward head posture is a postural misalignment in which the head protrudes in front of the body’s center of gravity, increasing strain on the neck and upper back muscles. Examinations of 64 adults under age 25 revealed the brain must
expend more cortical resources to maintain stability when forward head posture is present—especially during more physically demanding balance tasks. Scientific Reports, July 2025
Buttock Pain May Be a Symptom of Lumbar Disk Herniation
Examinations of 321 disk
herniation patients revealed that buttock pain is a common and independent symptom affecting three out of four such
individuals—particularly those with contained herniations and an intact annulus.
Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, March 2025
Low Back Pain Trends Attributable to High Body Mass Index
Past research has established high body mass index (BMI) as a significant risk factor for low back pain. Drawing on data from the Global Burden of Disease study, researchers reported a 171% increase in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs)—a metric that reflects years lost to illness, disability, or premature death—attributable to obesity-related low back pain between 1990 and 2021. This substantial rise highlights the growing public health burden of obesity and its contribution to chronic musculoskeletal conditions. Frontiers in Nutrition, January 2025
Read MoreLow Back Pain and Hip Asymmetries
Examinations of 93 middle-aged and older adults revealed that those with low back pain were more likely to exhibit asymmetries between their hips, suggesting altered biomechanics. Prior research has shown that hip and low back dysfunction often co-occur, with impairment in one region potentially increasing the risk of issues in the other. North American Spine Society Journal, March 2025
Read MoreDo MDs Follow the Guidelines on Acute Non-Specific Low Back Pain?
A survey that included 1,253 Swiss medical doctors (MDs) revealed that only 61% were aware of the current clinical guidelines on the management of acute non-specific low back pain. When presented with two hypothetical and routine cases of acute non-specific low back pain, respondents recommended several inappropriate treatment approaches including x-rays and MRI in the absence of red flags, muscle relaxants, oral steroids, strong opioids, spinal injections, and activity restrictions, including bed rest. Swiss Medical Weekly, January 2025
Read MoreLow Back Pain Will Increasingly Be a Problem for Decades to Come
According to a recent
study, 628.8 million people worldwide experienced at least one episode of low back pain in 2021.
Treatment for Acute Neck Pain
A systematic review that included eight clinical trials found that
spinal manipulative therapy is a safe and effective intervention for improving pain, disability, and range of motion in
patients with acute neck pain.
Text Neck Syndrome Common Among Medical Students
Text neck syndrome is a repetitive
strain injury caused by prolonged forward head posture—typically from looking down at phones or screens—which
leads to neck pain, stiffness, and sometimes headaches or shoulder discomfort.
Treatment for Mechanical Neck Pain
Recent studies highlight the effectiveness of cervical spine manipulation combined with neck exercises for neck pain, the risks of early antibiotic use increasing asthma and allergies in children, benefits of a plant-based diet for CKD patients, physical activity reducing mortality in depressed individuals, and vitamin D’s protective role against colorectal cancer.
Read More