The team is seeking subjects aged 18 and above who have experienced back pain on at least two days in the last two weeks. Credit: Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash.

Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia are conducting a study using a wrist-worn device to explore the various factors that affect day-to-day back pain and are inviting individuals to participate.

The research team is seeking subjects aged 18 and above who have experienced back pain on at least two days in the last two weeks.

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Funded by the US National Institutes of Health, the research aims to gather comprehensive data on how certain aspects, including biology and lifestyle, influence back pain symptoms.

During the study, participants will be required to wear the device for three months to monitor physical and sleep activity, as well as to provide information about their pain and overall health through a smartphone app.

The study will progress into a second phase, which will focus on gathering detailed data about participants’ sleep, movement, immune and nervous system activity.

Dr David Klyne from the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is the lead investigator of the study.

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Klyne emphasised the economic burden, with back pain costing Australia’s economy more than $9bn annually and noted the unsatisfactory outcomes of current treatments, despite significant health expenditure.

The study aims to shift the focus from the development of new acute or chronic back pain to the more common experience of fluctuating symptoms in those living with the condition.

Dr Manuela Besomi, the study coordinator, said that the study is designed to collect data from subjects in their natural settings.

Besomi commented: “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.

“This will allow us to examine the most detailed and important information ever collected for this population outside of a laboratory and minimise disruption to participant’s day-to-day activities.”