A measurement and comparison of the fluid intake in people with and without back pain

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate and compare fluid intake of people with and without chronic back pain (BP). The research hypothesis was that fluid intake is lower in people with chronic BP.

Method: A diary to record fluid intake in the general public was piloted. Seventy-seven people with chronic BP and 88 without BP were recruited from outpatient clinics and asked to record their fluid intake using this diary for nine consecutive days. Data were analysed to compare the intake of fluid in the two groups.

Results: T-tests showed that there is a higher fluid intake among the cohort with BP for the total daily fluid intake 2344 +/- 669 mL (P = 0.008), and daily fluid intake excluding alcohol 2065 +/- 658 mL (P = 0.039).

Conclusions: This study found that a sample of people with BP drank more fluid than a similar group with no BP.