What Researchers Did
Researchers used a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to observe how changes in atmospheric pressure affected low back pain in 24 patients, half with a "vacuum phenomenon" in their spinal discs and half without.
What They Found
In the 12 patients with vacuum phenomenon, 1 patient's pain worsened when pressure increased, and 8 patients' pain worsened when pressure decreased. Among the 12 patients without vacuum phenomenon, 2 experienced worse pain with decreased pressure. The study concluded that low back pain in patients with lumbar vacuum phenomenon may be aggravated by lower atmospheric pressure.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The study's findings are limited by its small sample size of only 24 patients.