Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by ERNST, E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by ERNST, E.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© 1993 British Society for Rheumatology

research-article

SMOKING, A CAUSE OF BACK TROUBLE?

E. ERNST

Klinik für Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation, AKH Währinger Gürtel 18–20, A-1090 Wien, Austria

Epidemiological studies strongly imply that smoking may be a risk factor for back problems. It has been speculated that this is due to frequent coughing, unhealthy life style or osteoporosis in smokers. All of these hypotheses, however, do not accord with the experimental evidence. A new theory is therefore proposed. It suggests that smoking leads to malnutrition of the disc which in turn renders it more vulnerable to mechanical stress. Malnutritition can be brought about by carboxyhaemoglobin formation, nicotine-induced vasoconstriction, arteriosclerotic vessel wall changes, impairment of fibrinolytic activity and changes in the flow properties of blood. The evidence supporting these pathomechanisms is discussed. Future studies should test the above hypothesis experimentally.

KEY WORDS: Back pain, Smoking, Risk factor, Blood supply


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 JBJSHome page
L.M. Galatz, M.J. Silva, S.Y. Rothermich, M.A. Zaegel, N. Havlioglu, and S. Thomopoulos
Nicotine Delays Tendon-to-Bone Healing in a Rat Shoulder Model
J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., September 1, 2006; 88(9): 2027 - 2034.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann Rheum DisHome page
K T Palmer, H Syddall, C Cooper, and D Coggon
Smoking and musculoskeletal disorders: findings from a British national survey
Ann Rheum Dis, January 1, 2003; 62(1): 33 - 36.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Epidemiol. Community HealthHome page
C E Dionne, M Von Korff, T D Koepsell, R A Deyo, W E Barlow, and H Checkoway
Formal education and back pain: a review
J Epidemiol Community Health, July 1, 2001; 55(7): 455 - 468.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Am Acad Orthop SurgHome page
S. E. Porter and E. N. Hanley Jr
The Musculoskeletal Effects of Smoking
J. Am. Acad. Ortho. Surg., January 1, 2001; 9(1): 9 - 17.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Scand J Public HealthHome page
A. Vikat, M. Rimpela, J. J. Salminen, A. Rimpela, A. Savolainen, and S. M. Virtanen
Neck or shoulder pain and low back pain in Finnish adolescents
Scand J Public Health, July 1, 2000; 28(3): 164 - 173.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.