Biomaterial Database

Referred limb symptoms in chronic low back pain. 1990

G Mellin, and H Hurri

Rehabilitation Foundation, Helsinki, Finland.

Referred limb symptoms (RLS) in chronic low back pain patients without signs of root affections were studied in 212 men and 126 women, aged 36-55 years, who were at work, but suffered from chronic or recurrent low back pain. RLS during the past few months were experienced by 17% daily and 22% occasionally. Previous RLS were reported by 34%, whereas 27% had never had such symptoms. There was a 3:4 distribution between symptoms in right and left legs, and 30% claimed symptoms in both legs. The distal extension of RLS into the limbs was as follows: thigh 18%, leg 37%, foot 20%, and toes 26%. The nature of RLS comprised the following: pain 56%, numbness 50%, cramps 22%, sharp pain 15%, and weakness 10%. Occurrence of RLS was not related to age. In both men and women, RLS correlated with subjective disability as well as with pain on bendings and palpation of lumbar spine and muscles. Men with previous and present RLS had greater external rotation of the hips, but otherwise no specific physical measurements were related with RLS. RLS of both legs in women and of distal extension in men showed more findings related with back pain.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007866	Leg	The inferior part of the lower extremity between the KNEE and the ANKLE.	Legs
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009120	Muscle Cramp	A sustained and usually painful contraction of muscle fibers. This may occur as an isolated phenomenon or as a manifestation of an underlying disease process (e.g., UREMIA; HYPOTHYROIDISM; MOTOR NEURON DISEASE; etc.). (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1398)	Cramp,Limb Cramp,Muscular Cramp,Cramp, Limb,Cramp, Muscle,Cramp, Muscular,Cramps,Cramps, Limb,Cramps, Muscle,Cramps, Muscular,Limb Cramps,Muscle Cramps,Muscular Cramps
D010146	Pain	An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by NERVE ENDINGS of NOCICEPTIVE NEURONS.	Suffering, Physical,Ache,Pain, Burning,Pain, Crushing,Pain, Migratory,Pain, Radiating,Pain, Splitting,Aches,Burning Pain,Burning Pains,Crushing Pain,Crushing Pains,Migratory Pain,Migratory Pains,Pains, Burning,Pains, Crushing,Pains, Migratory,Pains, Radiating,Pains, Splitting,Physical Suffering,Physical Sufferings,Radiating Pain,Radiating Pains,Splitting Pain,Splitting Pains,Sufferings, Physical
D010292	Paresthesia	Subjective cutaneous sensations (e.g., cold, warmth, tingling, pressure, etc.) that are experienced spontaneously in the absence of stimulation.	Dysesthesia,Formication,Paresthesia, Distal,Paresthesia, Painful,Distal Paresthesia,Distal Paresthesias,Dysesthesias,Formications,Painful Paresthesia,Painful Paresthesias,Paresthesias,Paresthesias, Distal,Paresthesias, Painful
D011795	Surveys and Questionnaires	Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions.	Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults