Does going to an amusement park alleviate low back pain? A preliminary study

Figures & data

Table 1 VAS scores and salivary amylase levels at each point in 23 subjects with low back pain

Measured point	A	B	C	D	E
Mean VAS score (range)	36.3 ± 17.2 (20.0–56.1)	15.7 ± 10.5* (0–27.2)	14.4 ± 9.6* (0–30.5)	14.7 ± 10.8* (0–26.5)	33.4 ± 15.8 (9.5–45.5)
Mean salivary amylase level (range)	16.7 ± 14.0 (3–47)	22.8 ± 17.6 (0–39)	24.0 ± 27.2 (0–45)	25.0 ± 20.8 (0–41)	15.8 ± 10.0 (0–31)

Notes: A point, immediately after getting on the bus heading for the park; B point, 10 minutes after arriving at the amusement park; C point, 1 hour after arriving at the amusement park; D point, 3 hours after arriving at the amusement park; E point, immediately before getting off the bus returning from the park;

* the three VAS scores of B, C, and D points were significantly lower (all P < 0.05) than the scores of A and E points.

Abbreviation: VAS, visual analog scale.

Table 2 The number of persons categorized at each level of severity of low back pain at each point

	A	B	C	D	E
No pain	0	2	3	1	0
Slight pain	5	11	12	13	6
Mild pain	18	10	8	9	17
Severe pain	0	0	0	0	0

Notes: Severe pain was defined as a visual analog score of 60 or higher, mild pain as 20 to <60, and slight pain as <20 in this study. A point, immediately after getting on the bus heading for the park; B point, 10 minutes after arriving at the amusement park; C point, 1 hour after arriving at the amusement park; D point, 3 hours after arriving at the amusement park; E point, immediately before getting off the bus returning from the park.

Table 3 VAS scores and salivary amylase levels at each point in subjects without low back pain

Measured point	A	B	C	D	E
Mean VAS score (range)	0.2 ± 0.2 (0–0.5)	0.2 ± 0.1 (0–0.5)	0.3 ± 0.2 (0–0.8)	0.3 ± 0.2 (0–0.7)	0.2 ± 0.1 (0–0.7)
Mean salivary amylase level (range)	18.3 ± 16.0 (2–37)	19.8 ± 17.6 (0–38)	19.8 ± 18.2 (0–39)	19.1 ± 16.3 (3–38)	17.3 ± 15.0 (3–33)

Note: There were no statistically significant differences among the five points.

Abbreviation: VAS, visual analog scale.