LOW BACK PAIN IN RUNNING: FROM PREVALENCE TO DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS

General organization of the research project The main goal of this PhD research project is to investigate the relevance of LBP in running, the specific risk factor for onset LBP on runners, the differential diagnosis in runners with LBP and the real impact of these data on therapeutic strategies to adopt in physiotherapy. Different studies were conducted during the 3-year period of PhD training (2016-2019). The results, relative discussions and implications are reported in the following chapters of the present dissertation as follows: • Chapter I: A brief overview on running and etiology of Running-Related Injury; • Chapter II: Analysis of The Prevalence and The Incidence of Low Back Pain in running; • Chapter III: The knowledge, attitude and behaviour of Italian physiotherapists specialized in manual therapy towards Low Back Pain as Related Running Injuries; • Chapter IV: The prevalence, behaviours and risk factors of Low back pain about Italian runners; • Chapter V: The Differential Diagnosis in Physical Therapy Practice, through two review: - The use of Red Flags in screening patients in physiotherapy. Narrative Review; - The diagnostic value of Red Flags in Thoracolumbar pain: A Systematic Review; • Chapter VI: The study of Red Flags identification as an important step to Screening for Referral Process in runners with Low Back Pain through four Cases Reports; • Chapter VII: General Discussion and Implication in physical therapy, and future research.