Active warming during emergency transport relieves acute low back pain.
METHODS
Prospective randomized blinded trial in a prehospital emergency system.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of external active warming on acute back pain during rescue transport to hospital.


BACKGROUND
Acute low back pain is one of the complaints that most often entails a visit to the physician or use of the emergency system. Superficial (e.g., hydrocolloid packs) and deep heating (e.g., ultrasound) can relieve acute low back pain in a clinical setting. Recent data showed significant benefit for patients in pain from minor trauma treated by active warming during emergency transport. Accordingly, we tested the hypothesis that active warming would reduce pain and anxiety in patients with acute low back pain being transported to a hospital.


METHODS
A total of 100 patients were included in our study. We selected only those suffering from acute pain > 60 mm on a visual analog scale in the lower back. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: active warming with a carbon-fiber electric heating blanket (Group 1) versus passive warming with a woolen blanket (Group 2) during transfer to hospital. RESULTS.: Pain scores on arrival at the hospital differed significantly between Group 1 and Group 2 (P < 0.01). In Group 1, pain reduction from 74.2 +/- 8.5 mm VAS to 41.9 +/- 18.9 mm VAS (P < 0.01) was noted between departure from the emergency site and arrival at the hospital. Pain scores remained practically unchanged in Group 2 (73.3 +/- 11.9 mm VAS and 74.1 +/- 12.0 mm VAS).


CONCLUSIONS
Active warming reduces acute low back pain during rescue transport.
Nuhr
Martin
M
Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Hoerauf
Klaus
K
Bertalanffy
Alexander
A
Bertalanffy
Petra
P
Frickey
Nathalie
N
Gore
Carmen
C
Gustorff
Burkhard
B
Kober
Alexander
A
D000328:Adult; D000552:Ambulances; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014187:Transportation of Patients; D016896:Treatment Outcome