Low back pain is one of the most common conditions seen by physiotherapists. 

While many patients recover from an acute episode, recurrence remains a significant challenge; around 70 per cent of people experience another episode within the following year. 

Deb Wareham APAM is a researcher and postdoctoral fellow in the Spinal Pain Research Centre at Macquarie University, Sydney, and the recipient of a 2024 PRF Seeding Grant for her research exploring the effectiveness of swimming for combating chronic low back pain. 

Low back pain remains stubbornly difficult to treat, with available treatments generally producing only modest short-term improvements for people with chronic non-specific low back pain. 

An editorial in the October issue of Journal of Physiotherapy proposes that one way forward may be to rethink how we understand pain itself, using an emerging neuroscience framework called active inference. 

Dr Alana Dinsdale APAM started working clinically in 2012, predominantly in the musculoskeletal space, but didn’t initially think about getting into research.

However, after treating many patients with neck problems, and particularly temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), she realised there was a gap in the research for TMDs from a physiotherapy rehabilitation perspective.

Smallest worthwhile effect of ACL reconstruction

A group of Australian researchers conducted a benefit–harm trade-off study to estimate the smallest worthwhile effect of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction plus rehabilitation – compared with rehabilitation only – for improving knee function and return to sport. First author Fahd Dibsh agreed to answer some questions about the study. 

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) remains one of the leading causes of disability worldwide.

In Australia, it is the most common chronic condition among people aged 45 to 64, affecting almost four million people.

Current treatments show only small to moderate effects and these are usually short-lived.

New research has highlighted a potential role for physiotherapists to work with coaches and players to effectively implement injury prevention programs like Prep-to-Play, an exercise-based injury prevention program developed for girls and women playing Australian Rules football. 

MOTOR RECOVERY AND REHABILITATION AFTER STROKE 

Researchers from Australia, the USA and the Netherlands summarised five years of research into motor recovery and rehabilitation after stroke. Two of the authors, Dr Emily Dalton and Associate Professor Natalie Fini, agreed to answer some questions.