University of Queensland researchers are seeking participants for a study looking to understand what factors influence day-to-day back pain.
Lead investigator Dr. David Klyne from the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences said the project, funded by the US National Institutes of Health, will investigate how back pain symptoms are influenced by biology, psychology, sociology, behavior and lifestyle.
One in five Australians has lower back pain, impacting quality of life and participation in work and leisure activities.
As well as the human impact, the condition is reported to cost the country's economy more than $9 billion annually.
But despite huge health expenditure and effort to advance treatment, outcomes are far from satisfactory and getting worse.
In fact, lower back pain is now the leading cause of disability worldwide ahead of 290 other conditions, up from a ranking of 105 just 20 years ago.
Previous research has focused on understanding the development of new acute or chronic back pain, but this study will look at the far more common experience of fluctuating symptoms in people who live with the condition."
Dr. David Klyne, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland
Participants in the UQ study will be asked to wear a wrist-worn device for 3 months to monitor their sleep and physical activity, as well as answer questions about their pain and general condition via an app on their smartphone.
A second phase of the study would involve capturing highly detailed information about their sleep, movement, and immune and nervous system activity.
Study coordinator Dr. Manuela Besomi said the study has been designed to collect data from participants in their everyday natural settings.
"We have developed cutting-edge technologies and online platforms to capture data from participants as they go about their daily life at home, work or wherever they are," Dr Besomi said.
"This will allow us to examine the most detailed and important information ever collected for this population outside of a laboratory and minimize disruption to participant's day-to-day activities.
"This research will help us to understand back pain more clearly, so we can help to alleviate this burden."
The research team is looking for participants aged 18 and older who have experienced back pain on at least 2 days in the past 2 weeks.
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