title: Diagnosis and Characters of Non-Specific Low Back Pain in Japan: The Yamaguchi Low Back Pain Study.
abstract: METHODS
  Cross sectional data from the Yamaguchi low back pain study conducted in Yamaguchi prefecture, Japan, was used for this analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 320 patients were recruited from walk-in orthopedic clinics in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. Patients visited the clinics primarily for low back pain (LBP) and sought treatment between April and May 2015. A self-questionnaire was completed by patients, while radiographic testing and neurological and physical examination was performed by the orthopedist in each hospital. The cause and characters of LBP was determined following examination of the data, regional anesthesia and block injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  'Specific LBP' was diagnosed in 250 (78%) patients and non-diagnosable, 'non-specific LBP' in 70 (22%) patients. The VAS scores of patients were: LBP, 5.8±0.18; leg pain, 2.9±0.18 and the intensity of leg numbness was 1.9±0.16. Item scores for SF-8 were: general health, 46.6±0.40; physical function, 43.5±0.51; physical limitations, 42.8±0.53; body pain, 42.1±0.52; vitality, 48.4±0.37; social function, 46.9±0.53; emotional problems, 48.9±0.43; mental health, 46.9±0.43.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of non-specific LBP in Japan was lower than previous reports from western countries, presumably because of variation in the diagnosis of LBP between different health care systems. In Japan, 78% of cases were classified as 'specific LBP' by orthopedists. Identification of the definitive cause of LBP should help to improve the quality of LBP treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsukasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanchiku
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imajo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taguchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D001340:Autonomic Nerve Block; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local