Low back pain among Italian runners: A cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Low Back Pain (LBP) is commonly reported as a very frequent disorder in sports, but its prevalence in runners remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of LBP in a wide sample of Italian runners.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional online survey.

SETTING

A national survey, according to the CHERRIES and STROBE guidelines, was performed in 2019.

PARTICIPANTS

2539 Italian runners.

METHODS

A sample of Italian runners registered with national running associations was recruited. The survey was conducted using an online survey development platform. The questionnaire was self-reported and included 38 questions.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Descriptive statistics and frequencies were used to analyze results. Relationships between demographics, daily habits and running characteristics and the responses given was calculated with Cramer's V. Only correlation values higher >0.60 were deemed of interest.

RESULTS

2539 questionnaires (63.5%) were valid for analysis. In total, 22.6% of runners reported having experienced LBP in the past year. Most participants (77.0%) reporting episodes of LBP believed it was not caused by running. No significant correlations (Cramer's V < 0.60) were found between LBP and demographics, training characteristics or lifestyle habits.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of LBP among Italian runners was 22,57%. LBP was not associated with training, equipment or lifestyle.

THU0474 NEUROPATHIC SYMPTOMS IN ITALIAN PATIENTS WITH FIBROMYALGIA: RESULTS FROM A NATIONAL ON-LINE SURVEY

Background:

Fibromyalgia (FM) is the second most frequent disorder in rheumatic patients. Other than widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance and cognitive impairments, patients complain also symptoms of suspected neuropathic origin, like burning pain, thermal sensitive skin, hyperalgesia, pins and needles sensations. Recent studies highlighted the presence of small- fibers pathology (SFP) and/or large-nerve fibers involvement in about 50% of FM patients, which could be the cause of neuropathic pain.

Objectives:

The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of neuropathic pain and symptoms indicative for the presence of SFP in Italian FM patients, studying the association with clinical variables.

Methods:

An on-line survey was designed according to the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys guidelines (CHERRIES) and Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE). The on-line Survey Monkey® platform was adopted to collect data. We calculated a-priori minimum number of 800 responders.

We administered the survey by involving 7 FM patients’ associations distributed nationwide between July and September 2019. We explored demographic and clinical variables including pain and stiffness intensity, symptoms duration, and counting of painful sites. Neuropathic Pain Symptoms Inventory (NPSI) and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) were administered. To study the presence of symptoms indicative of potential SFP we asked for the presence of 8 signs and symptoms reported in literature as characteristics of SFPs. Two groups of FM patients were considered: those positive (FM+) to the Fibromyalgia Research Criteria (FRC) (Wolfe et al., 2011), and those complaining typical FM symptoms but not fulfilling the FRC (FM-).

Results:

The survey was correctly completed by 76% of participants (892/1173). A total sample of 854 patients (749 in FM+ and 105 in FM-) was analyzed after the exclusion of subjects with major comorbidities. The mean NPSI score was significantly higher in FM+ (56.3/100) respect to FM- (34.2/100). NPSI score was ≥50/100 in 62.4% of FM+ patients and in 21.0% of FM-. More than 3 symptoms indicative for SFP were found in 51% of FM+ patients and in 15.2% of FM-. Dry eyes/mouth, allodynia and changed pattern of sweating on body were the 3 most frequently reported symptoms. We found statistically significant strong associations (p<0.001) for the NPSI score with disability (rho=0.53) and pain (rho=0.63), and a moderate correlation with stiffness levels (rho=0.45) and counting of painful sites (rho=0.33). Symptoms indicative for SFP were significantly correlated (p<0.001) with all clinical variables with low grade of association (Cramer’s V orrho<0.30). Although the higher prevalence of neuropathic pain and symptoms potentially indicative for SFPs, electromyography and electroneurography were performed in 40%-44% of cases, and skin biopsy in 1%-2% of the sample, as well as the assumption of gabapentinoids (12.6% in FM+ and 18% in FM-).

Conclusion:

This findings highlight the importance of neuropathic pain symptoms identification, since we found a high prevalence and a strong correlation with clinical variables in our cohort of FM patients. The assessment of the neuropathic dimension of pain through self-administered questionnaire should be part of the routine clinical practice.

References:

[1]Wolfe, F., et al., 2011. Fibromyalgia Criteria and Severity Scales for Clinical and Epidemiological Studies: A Modification of the ACR Preliminary Diagnostic Criteria for Fibromyalgia. The Journal of Rheumatology 38, 1113–1122.

Disclosure of Interests: :

Antonello Viceconti: None declared, Tommaso Geri: None declared, Simone De Luca: None declared, Filippo Maselli: None declared, Alberto Sulli Grant/research support from: Laboratori Baldacci, Marco Testa: None declared, Giacomo Rossettini: None declared