Physical and psychosocial predictors of functional trunk capacity in older adults with and without low back pain

Examining Psychological Factors as Contributors to Pain, Disability, and Physical Function in Geriatric Chronic Low Back Pain: A Prospective Analysis of the Delaware Spine Studies Cohort

In younger populations, risk factors from psychologically-focused theoretical models have become accepted as primary drivers behind the persistence of low back pain (LBP), but these risk factors have not been thoroughly assessed in older adult populations (60-85 years). To address this knowledge gap, we sought to examine longitudinal associations between both general and pain-related psychological risk factors and future pain intensity, LBP-related disability, and physical function (gait speed) outcomes in older adults with chronic LBP (n = 250). Questionnaires for general (ie, depressive symptoms) and pain-related psychological risk factors (ie, fear-avoidance beliefs, pain catastrophizing, and kinesiophobia) were collected at baseline. Questionnaire values were entered into principal component analysis to yield a combined psychological component score. LBP intensity (pain thermometers), LBP-related disability (Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale), and gait speed were measured at baseline and 12-month follow-up. Multiple linear regression was used to examine adjusted associations between baseline psychological component scores and each prospective outcome. The baseline psychological component score failed to independently predict 12-month LBP-related disability and gait speed after adjustment for baseline outcomes. Though the psychological component score was associated with 12-month LBP intensity after adjusting for baseline LBP intensity, this association diminished with full adjustment for other baseline characteristics. Cumulatively, general and pain-related psychological risk factors did not independently predict longitudinal pain, disability, and physical function outcomes in this cohort. Compared to younger populations with this condition, general and pain-related psychological risk factors may have less influence on the maintenance of chronic LBP in older adults. PERSPECTIVE: This article failed to establish consistent independent relationships between psychological factors and worse longitudinal pain, disability, and physical function outcomes in older adults with chronic LBP. The findings highlight a need to determine other age-specific biopsychosocial risk factors that may impact the maintenance of chronic pain in this patient population.

Non-spinal low back pain: Global epidemiology, trends, and risk factors

Background and Aims

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most debilitating and prevalent disorders. The prevalence of LBP ranges from 30% to 80%, depending on the population, and increases with age. Causes of LBP are typically classified as spinal and non-spinal. The main goal of this study was to investigate the non-spinal causes of LBP, since neglecting these factors leads to increases in the financial, psychological, and physical burden of LBP on individuals as well as on society.

Methods

The data were extracted after searching the PubMed database and Google Scholar search engine up to October 27, 2021. We included all studies that were conducted on a human population and assessed the effects of epidemiological, biological, psychological, and sociodemographic factors on the incidence or progression of LBP.

Results

The most common causes of non-spinal LBP were diseases such as nephrolithiasis, endometriosis, tumors, fibromyalgia, and conditions like psychological disorders and pregnancy. Nevertheless, the perceived intensity of the pain can be affected by factors such as socioeconomic level, genetics, age, habits, diet, and psychological status.

Conclusion

The epidemiology, etiologies, and risk factors associated with LBP should be more clearly recognized to better prevent, diagnose, and treat the underlying disease and to reduce the burden of LBP.

The Effect of Transcutaneous Electrotherapy on Lumbar Range of Motion and Paraspinal Muscle Characteristics in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) affects paraspinal muscle size, quality (e.g., fatty infiltration), range of motion (ROM), and strength. Although transcutaneous electrotherapies are used to treat CLBP, their effects on paraspinal-related outcomes are not fully known. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the overall effect of transcutaneous electrotherapies on trunk/lumbar ROM, paraspinal muscle morphology, and trunk muscle function (including strength and endurance) in CLBP patients. A systematic search of four databases and two study registers was conducted between 1 February 2022 and 15 September 2022. Two reviewers were responsible for screening and data extraction. Of the 3939 independent records screened, 10 were included in the systematic review and 2 in the meta-analysis. The results suggest there is limited evidence that both EMS and EMS plus exercise are superior to passive and active controls, respectively, for improving trunk muscle endurance. There is limited evidence that neither TENS nor mixed TENS are superior to controls for improving trunk muscle endurance. There is limited evidence that NMES is superior to passive controls for improving trunk muscle strength. The effect of transcutaneous electrotherapy on the other investigated outcomes was inconclusive. Future transcutaneous electrotherapy studies should focus on paraspinal-based outcomes that are under-studied.

Characteristics and usefulness of trunk muscle endurance tests on the Roman chair in healthy adults

Background

Adequate trunk muscle endurance is considered to be an important indicator of good low back stability; therefore, its assessment is needed when determining an individual's risk for back pain. Optimal tests to assess each trunk muscle group separately are difficult to find. The objective of this study was to verify if two groups of trunk muscle endurance tests (standard and alternative) show comparable results in terms of muscle endurance ratios, holding times and rated perceived effort to perform each test.

Methods

The study was designed as a quasi-experimental repeated-measures design. There was a single group of participants who took part in two different trunk muscle endurance testing. Sixty-eight healthy adult volunteers, aged 20-45 years (31.9 ± 7.2 years), without recent musculoskeletal injury or disorder participated in the study. All participants finished the study. Trunk muscle endurance tests as tested on the Roman chair (B tests) were compared with standard tests as suggested by McGill (A tests). Each group of tests consisted of an endurance test for trunk extensors, trunk flexors, and lateral trunk muscles for left and right side. The order of tests' performances was randomly assigned to each participant, whereby a participant did perform A and B tests in the same order. In each test of A and B the holding time was recorded and a perceived effort in each test performance was also assessed by participants. Post testing performance the four ratios of trunk muscles endurance comparison were calculated for each group of tests to determine if there is a good or poor ratio between muscles. Results of each participant were compared for trunk muscle endurance ratio calculations, holding times and rated perceived effort for A and B tests.

Results

Results showed comparable trunk muscle endurance ratios in the three ratios observed, except for the flexors:extensors ratio (A_FL:EX: 1.2 (IQR: 0.7-1.6) vs. B_FL:EX: 0.6 (IQR: 0.3-0.8); p < 0.001). As compared to A tests, holding times were significantly longer in B tests for the extensors (A_EX: 125.5 s (IQR: 104.8-182.8 s) vs. B_EX: 284.0 s (IQR: 213.0-342.3 s); p < 0.001) and lateral trunk muscles (A_L-LM: 61.0 s (IQR: 48.3-80.8 s) vs. B_L-LM: 131.5 s (IQR: 95.5-158.5 s); A_R-LM: 63.5 s (IQR: 45.8-77.3 s) vs. B_R-LM: 113.0 s (IQR: 86.3-148.8 s); p < 0.001), both were also rated as slightly easier to perform in the extensors (A_RPE-EX: 13 (IQR: 12.0-14.0) vs B_RPE-EX: 11 (IQR: 10.0-13.0); p_RPE-EX < 0.001) and lateral muscles testing (A_RPE-LM: 14.0 (IQR: 12.3-15.8) vs. B_RPE-LM: 13.0 (IQR: 12.0-15.0); p_RPE-LM = 0.001).

Conclusions

A and B tests are comparable in three of four trunk muscle endurance ratios, while longer holding times and lower perceived effort to perform were observed in most of the B tests. The Roman chair tests could be used as an alternative to standard tests.

Is the Side Bridge Test Valid and Reliable for Assessing Trunk Lateral Flexor Endurance in Recreational Female Athletes?

Simple Summary

Although the side bridge test has been widely used for assessing trunk lateral flexor endurance in sport, clinical, and scientific settings, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no study has analyzed its validity and reliability in an only female population. The surface electromyography of eight abdominal, back, shoulder and hip muscles was measured during the test to analyze its validity. A one-week test-retest design was performed to evaluate its reliability. No significant differences were found between the trunk lateral flexors and the deltoids. The study data showed that the test performance could be significantly predicted by external oblique and deltoid normalized median frequency slopes and by body mass and trunk height. Based on the results of this study, the shoulder muscle activation and fatigue and the individuals’ anthropometric characteristics, especially the mass, played an important role in the side bridge test performance, which questions the validity of this multi-joint test to specifically assess trunk lateral flexor endurance. In addition, although the side bridge test showed a good data consistency, its intra-subject variability was high, which reduces its utility when small intra-subject changes in muscle endurance are important (e.g., elite sport).

Abstract

The side bridge test (SBT) is one of the most popular tests to assess isometric trunk lateral flexor endurance. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the SBT in healthy females. Twenty-four (24.58 ± 3.92 years) physically active (1–2 h of moderate physical activity, 2–3 times a week) females voluntarily participated in this study. The surface electromyography (EMG) of eight abdominal, back, shoulder and hip muscles was measured during the SBT. Normalized median frequency slopes (NMF_slope) were calculated to analyze the muscle fatigue. The EMG amplitudes were normalized to maximum EMG values to assess muscle activity intensity. A one-week test-retest design was performed to evaluate the SBT reliability through the ICC_3,1 and typical error. Higher NMF_slopes and normalized EMG amplitudes were found in deltoids, abdominal obliques, rectus abdominis, and erector spinae in comparison to latissimus dorsi, gluteus medius, and rectus femoris. However, no significant differences were found between the trunk lateral flexors and the deltoids. Linear regression analysis showed that SBT performance could be significantly predicted by external oblique and deltoid NMF_slope (adjusted R² = 0.673) and by body mass and trunk height (adjusted R² = 0.223). Consistency analysis showed a high intraclass correlation coefficient (0.81) and a relatively high typical error (10.95 s). Despite the good relative reliability of the SBT, its absolute reliability was low and its validity questionable, as the shoulder muscle activation and fatigue and the individuals’ anthropometric characteristics played an important role in SBT performance.

Association of Functional Disability and Biopsychosocial Factors in Older Adults With Low Back Pain Who Live in the Amazonas State Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to identify social and clinical factors associated with levels of functional disability (FD) in older adults with low back pain (LBP) in the city of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 557 adults with LBP aged ≥60 years was completed. Sociodemographic and clinical features, pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale), FD (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short version), body mass index, educational level, health perception, emotional level, and self-reported diseases were evaluated. Statistical analysis was used to verify the association between quantitative variables and a group; Student t test or Mann-Whitney test, and analysis of variance (normality assumption) or Kruskal-Wallis test (non-parametric), P value of less than .05.

RESULTS

There were 81.3% female participants, 54.9% self-reported their race and/or skin color as brown, and 37.8% were sedentary. Pain intensity scores were 6.26 ± 2.19 in female participants and 5.82 ± 1.84 in male participants. Mean FD scores were 11.68 ± 6.08 for female participants and 9.61 ± 5.76 for males participants, although 39.7% of the total group presented with severe disability (score ≥14) and FD was associated with female sex (P = .001), physical activity (P≤ 0.001), body mass index (P≤ .001), emotional level (P < .001), and health perception (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

In this group of older adults with LBP, FD was associated with female sex, level of physical activity, body mass index, emotional level, and health perception. Many factors that were identified with FD are modifiable; therefore, interventions, such as nutrition education and re-conceptualization of self-emotional and health perception, may have potential to help in preventing and reducing FD.

Kinesiophobia in Elderly Polish Patients After Ischemic Stroke, Including Frailty Syndrome

INTRODUCTION

In patients after stroke, the relationship between the occurrence of kinesiophobia and the accompanying frailty syndrome, as well as the acceptance of the disease and the level of mood, has not been recognized so far. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of kinesiophobia in elderly Polish people after ischemic stroke, including the frailty syndrome and the associations between the prevalence of kinesiophobia and feelings of anxiety and degree of the illness acceptance.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was used to achieve the study objectives. The study involved 152 hospitalized patients aged of minimum 60 (mean age 63), qualified for post-stroke rehabilitation, including 76 women and 76 men. The patients were divided into two groups, with kinesiophobia (119 persons) and without kinesiophobia (33 persons). The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) and the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) were used. Study results were calculated using MedCalc Software.

RESULTS

Kinesiophobia has been demonstrated in 78% of people after ischemic stroke. The values of TFI and HADS were higher in the patients with kinesiophobia (p<0.001). In patients with ischemic stroke, it was shown that the level of kinesiophobia increased with higher anxiety (p<0.001), higher total TFI score, (p<0.05), and a lower level of illness acceptance (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of kinesiophobia in elderly Polish people after ischemic stroke is common and the determinants of its development are the coexistence of the frailty syndrome, anxiety and a low level of illness acceptance. In post-stroke patients, the presence of kinesiophobia should be considered, especially in the situation of comorbid frailty syndrome. The issue of kinesiophobia in patients after stroke requires further in-depth research, especially in the field of cognitive-behavioral prevention aimed at ways to reduce this phenomenon.

Kinesiophobia Post Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Study

Introduction

One of the major psychological factors that can affect the outcome of hip arthroplasty is postoperative kinesiophobia, which is defined as a fear of movement. The effect of kinesiophobia and excruciating pain has not been widely explored in hip arthroplasty literature especially in Saudi Arabia.

Aim

This study aimed to investigate kinesiophobia and pain catastrophizing after total hip arthroplasty (THA) in King Fahad Hospital, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.

Materials and methods

This is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at King Fahad Hospital, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia. Using a validated self-administered questionnaire, participants were questioned telephonically. Questionnaires included basic demographic characteristics, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), and Numerical Analogue Scale (NAS). Data were tabulated in MS Excel and all statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY).

Results

Seventy-four patients were recruited (60.8% females vs 39.2% males). The TSK mean score was 40.7 (SD 8.88) while the mean NAS score was 5.45 (SD 2.79). The prevalence of kinesiophobia was 62.2%. The statistical test revealed that there was a statistically significant positive correlation between TSK score and NAS score (r=460; p<0.001). Furthermore, kinesiophobia was widely prevalent among patients who had avascular necrosis (p<0.001) and among those who underwent physiotherapy (p=0.044).

Conclusion

There was a high prevalence of kinesiophobia among patients who underwent THA. Pain intensity directly correlated with the presence of kinesophobia.

Influence of Stabilization Techniques Used in the Treatment of Low Back Pain on the Level of Kinesiophobia

The aim of this study was to try to compare the effectiveness of manual therapy techniques in combination with stabilization techniques: the so-called Australian method and the Neurac method in relation to pain sensations and the level of kinesiophobia. A total of 69 people were examined, divided into three groups of 23 people each. The Visual Analogue Scale was used to assess the antalgic effect, and the Kinesiophobia Causes Scale questionnaire was used to assess the level of kinesiophobia. Patients improved over four weeks, during which they were assessed three times. The evaluation of the desired parameters was also performed over a 24-week period to assess long-term performance. Stabilization techniques are an effective extension of manual therapy techniques in patients with low back pain. People in the groups additionally improved in terms of stabilization techniques, which are characterized by a lower level of kinesiophobia. Its lowest level was found in the group additionally improved with the Neurac method. In the long-term study, the level of kinesiophobia in this group was still maintained at a reduced level. The use of stabilization techniques involving patients in action may significantly affect the level of kinesiophobia, and thus have a much wider effect than just pain reduction.

Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Associated Factors in Older Adults: Amazonia Brazilian Community Study

To investigate the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) and associated factors in the older adult Amazonia Brazilian community, a cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate 700 participants that were ≥60 years old. Pain intensity and functional disability were assessed using the Numerical Pain Scale and the Roland Morris Questionnaire, respectively, and their sociodemographic, clinical, and behavior variables were collected, i.e., age, sex, education level, socioeconomic level, anthropometric measurements, physical activity, health perception, and emotional state. The punctual prevalence rates of LBP were 42.4% (95% CI: 38.2-46.6%), and for the last 365 days, these prevalence rates were 93.7% (95% CI: 91.3-95.6%), the mean pain and functional disability scores were 6.17 ± 2.13 and 11.30 ± 6.07, and the moderate-to-severe disability was 39.7%. Pain and functional disability were associated with sex, chronic diseases, body mass index (BMI), physical activity level, health perception, and emotional level. In conclusion, the prevalence of LBP was high (for both punctual and the last 365 days), but the variables associated with being female, fewer years of schooling, sedentary behavior, diseases related to diet and the cardiovascular system, and impaired emotional levels had a higher level LBP, even though they considered themselves in good health. These findings can aid with coordinated efforts from government and health professionals to help manage and promote the prevention of LBP by considering the older adult population's needs in the state of Amazonas.

The effectiveness of patient education in improving pain, disability and quality of life among older people with low back pain: A systematic review

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to gain an overview of patient education and the effects of patient education for older people with low back pain (LBP).

METHODS

The search strategies were performed via EBSCO MEDLINE, EBSCO CINAHL, Science Direct, PubMed, and PEDro databases from 2006 to 2016. The keywords "patient education", "low back pain", "elderly", "older adults", "older persons" and "older people" were used during the literature search. Boolean operators were used to expand or limit the searching scope and manual exclusion was performed to choose articles eligible for this study.

RESULTS

A total of 2799 articles were retrieved but only five articles were related with patient education for older people with LBP. Findings suggest that patient education for older people may differ in terms of its contents such as health education, self-management, video education, and postural education. The high methodological quality of the studies revealed that patient education showed improvement in terms of pain, disability and quality of life among older people with LBP.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient education improved pain and had positive effects on disability and quality of life among older people with LBP. However, due to the limited number of RCTs more studies are needed to provide evidence for its effectiveness.

Domains of Chronic Low Back Pain and Assessing Treatment Effectiveness: A Clinical Perspective

Nonspecific chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a common clinical condition that has impacts at both the individual and societal level. Pain intensity is a primary outcome used in clinical practice to quantify the severity of CLBP and the efficacy of its treatment; however, pain is a subjective experience that is impacted by a multitude of factors. Moreover, differences in effect sizes for pain intensity are not observed between common conservative treatments, such as spinal manipulative therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, and exercise training. As pain science evolves, the biopsychosocial model is gaining interest in its application for CLBP management. The aim of this article is to discuss our current scientific understanding of pain and present why additional factors should be considered in conservative CLBP management. In addition to pain intensity, we recommend that clinicians should consider assessing the multidimensional nature of CLBP by including physical (disability, muscular strength and endurance, performance in activities of daily living, and body composition), psychological (kinesiophobia, fear-avoidance, pain catastrophizing, pain self-efficacy, depression, anxiety, and sleep quality), social (social functioning and work absenteeism), and health-related quality-of-life measures, depending on what is deemed relevant for each individual. This review also provides practical recommendations to clinicians for the assessment of outcomes beyond pain intensity, including information on how large a change must be for it to be considered "real" in an individual patient. This information can guide treatment selection when working with an individual with CLBP.

Foot Reflexotherapy Induces Analgesia in Elderly Individuals with Low Back Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Pilot Study

Introduction

This study evaluated the effects of foot reflexotherapy on pain and postural balance in elderly individuals with low back pain.

Design

Randomized, controlled pilot study. Participants (n = 20) were randomly assigned to 2 groups: individuals submitted to conventional foot massage (control group) or foot reflexotherapy (RT, intervention group) for a period of 5 weeks. Questionnaires on pain and disability (visual analogue scale [VAS] and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire [RMDQ]), heart rate variability, and orthostatic balance and baropodometric analysis were assessed at two intervals: before and after intervention.

Results

RT group showed statistically significant differences when compared to control group in the following parameters: decrease in VAS scores for pain throughout the study, decrease in parasympathetic activity, and improvement in RMDQ scores. The two groups did not statistically differ in either orthostatic balance or baropodometric analyses.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that foot reflexotherapy induced analgesia but did not affect postural balance in elderly individuals with low back pain.

Validation of the Social support and Pain Questionnaire (SPQ) in patients with painful temporomandibular disorders

Background

The present study aimed to validate of Social support and Pain Questionnaire (SPQ) for use in Chinese patients with painful temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

Methods

The Chinese version of SPQ was produced by translation and cross-culturally adaptation of the original English version according to international guidelines. The Chinese version of SPQ was then distributed to a total of 118 patients with painful TMD. Reliability of the SPQ was evaluating using internal consistency and test-retest methods and validity of the SPQ was determined by construct validity and convergent validity. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to assess the construct validity of SPQ. And convergent validity was assessed by correlating the SPQ scores with the score of a global oral health question.

Results

The Chinese version of SPQ has a high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha value, 0.926) and good test-retest reliability ((intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), 0.784). Construct validity was evaluated by EFA, extracting one factor, accounting for 74.8% of the variance. All factor loadings of the six items had exceeded 0.80. As regards convergent validity, the SPQ showed good correlation with the global oral health question.

Conclusion

These findings support that the Chinese version of SPQ can be used as a reliable and valid tool for Chinese patients with painful TMD.

Low back pain in older adults: risk factors, management options and future directions

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the major disabling health conditions among older adults aged 60 years or older. While most causes of LBP among older adults are non-specific and self-limiting, seniors are prone to develop certain LBP pathologies and/or chronic LBP given their age-related physical and psychosocial changes. Unfortunately, no review has previously summarized/discussed various factors that may affect the effective LBP management among older adults. Accordingly, the objectives of the current narrative review were to comprehensively summarize common causes and risk factors (modifiable and non-modifiable) of developing severe/chronic LBP in older adults, to highlight specific issues in assessing and treating seniors with LBP, and to discuss future research directions. Existing evidence suggests that prevalence rates of severe and chronic LBP increase with older age. As compared to working-age adults, older adults are more likely to develop certain LBP pathologies (e.g., osteoporotic vertebral fractures, tumors, spinal infection, and lumbar spinal stenosis). Importantly, various age-related physical, psychological, and mental changes (e.g., spinal degeneration, comorbidities, physical inactivity, age-related changes in central pain processing, and dementia), as well as multiple risk factors (e.g., genetic, gender, and ethnicity), may affect the prognosis and management of LBP in older adults. Collectively, by understanding the impacts of various factors on the assessment and treatment of older adults with LBP, both clinicians and researchers can work toward the direction of more cost-effective and personalized LBP management for older people.

Factors that impact functional performance of elderly with low back pain

Abstract Introduction: Low back pain is a common condition among older adults and an important cause of disability. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between functional performance of older adults with low back pain and the following variables: sociodemographic and clinical factors, self-perceived health and back pain beliefs. Methods: A cross-sectional study that used data from the Back Complaints in the Elders international consortium. Information about sociodemographic factors (sex, age, marital status, formal education), clinical factors (intensity and frequency of pain, comorbidities), self-perceived health, back pain beliefs and functional performance (measured by the disability component of the Late Life Function and Disability Instrument - LLFDI) were collected through self-report. 191 older adults above 60 years with a new episode of back complaints who did not have any cognitive disorder, visual or hearing impairment, or motor disabilities participated in the study. A bivariate analysis was conducted between each independent variable and each outcome. Associations with p < 0.20 were selected for the multiple linear regression analysis, which was carried out for each LLFDI domain. Results: The multiple regression coefficients of determination were significant despite the modest magnitude. The variables related to functional performance were back beliefs, self-perceived health, formal education, pain frequency and marital status. Conclusion: These results may contribute to the expansion of health professionals’ work in the therapeutic approach of low back pain, broadening its focus beyond clinical aspects in order to value beliefs of older adults and their self-perceived health.

Multifidi Muscle Characteristics and Physical Function Among Older Adults With and Without Chronic Low Back Pain

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether multifidi size, intramuscular fat, or both, are associated with self-reported and performance-based physical function in older adults with and without chronic low back pain (LBP).

DESIGN

Case-control study.

SETTING

Individuals participated in a standardized evaluation in a clinical laboratory and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine at a nearby facility.

PARTICIPANTS

A volunteer sample of community-dwelling older adults (N=106), aged 60 to 85 years, with (n=57) and without (n=49) chronic LBP were included in this secondary data analysis.

INTERVENTION

Average right-left L5 multifidi relative (ie, total) cross-sectional area (CSA), muscle-fat infiltration index (MFI) (ie, a measure of intramuscular fat), and relative muscle CSA (rmCSA) (ie, total CSA minus intramuscular fat CSA) were determined from MRIs. Linear regression modeling was performed with physical function measures as the dependent variables. Age, sex, and body mass index were entered as covariates. The main effects of L5 multifidi MFI and rmCSA, as well as their interaction with group assignment, were compared as independent variables.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey physical functioning subscale, timed Up and Go, gait speed, and fast stair descent performance.

RESULTS

Interaction terms between L5 multifidi MFI and group assignment were found to be significant contributors to the variance explained in all physical function measures (P≤.012). Neither the main effect nor the interaction with group assignment for L5 multifidi rmCSA significantly contributed to the variance explained in any of the physical function measures (P>.012).

CONCLUSIONS

Among older adults with chronic LBP of at least moderate intensity, L5 multifidi muscle composition, but not size, may help to explain physical function.

Muscle Functions and Functional Performance among Older Persons with and without Low Back Pain

This study aims to compare muscle functions and functional performances between older persons with and without low back pain (LBP) and to determine the association between muscle functions and functional performances. This is a cross-sectional study, involving 95 older persons (age = 70.27 ± 7.26 years). Anthropometric characteristics, muscle functions, and functional performances were measured. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and multiple linear regression. The functional performances showed no significant differences (females LBP versus non-LBP, males LBP versus non-LBP) (p < 0.05). For muscle functions, significant differences were found (females LBP versus non-LBP) for abdominal muscle strength (p = 0.006) and back muscle strength (p = 0.07). In the LBP group, significant correlations were found between back and abdominal muscle strength and hand grip strength (r = 0.377 and r = 0.396, resp.), multifidus control and lower limb function (r = 0.363) in females, and back muscle strength and lower limb function (r = 0.393) in males (all p < 0.05). Regression analysis showed that abdominal and back muscle strengths were significant predictors of hand grip strength (p = 0.041 and p = 0.049, resp.), and multifidus control was a significant predictor of lower limb function in females (p = 0.047). This study demonstrates that older women with LBP exhibit poorer muscle functions compared to older women without LBP.

Kinesiophobia and its relation to pain characteristics and cognitive affective variables in older adults with chronic pain

BACKGROUND

The contribution of kinesiophobia (fear of movement) to the pain experience among older adults has been poorly evaluated. The aim of this study was to study prevalence at baseline, development over a 12-month period and cognitive-affective variables of kinesiophobia in a population-based sample of older adults with chronic pain.

METHODS

The study included 433 older adults (+65 years) with chronic pain (mean age 74.8 years) randomly selected using a Swedish register of inhabitants. Kinesiophobia was measured at baseline and 12-month follow-up with the 11-item version of the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11). Associations of demographic-, cognitive affective - and pain-related variables to kinesiophobia were analysed with linear regression analyses.

RESULTS

The mean level of kinesiophobia was low. Worsening and recovering from kinesiophobia occurred over time, but the mean level of kinesiophobia remained unchanged (p = 0.972). High levels of kinesiophobia (TSK ≥35) were found among frailer and older adults predominately living in care homes, but not dependent on sex. Poor self-perceived health (OR = 8.84) and high pain intensity (OR = 1.22) were significantly associated with kinesiophobia.

CONCLUSION

Results indicate that potential interventions regarding kinesiophobia among older adults should aim to decrease pain intensity and strengthen health beliefs.

Depression: An important factor associated with disability among patients with chronic low back pain

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to compare the associations of pain indices, depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms with disability among outpatients with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

METHOD

Consecutive orthopedics outpatients with CLBP in a medical center were enrolled. The Oswestry Disability Index and physical functioning and role limitations-physical of the Short-Form 36 were used as disability indices. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale were employed. Pain intensity was rated using a visual analogue scale. Multiple linear regressions were used to determine the impacts of these independent factors related to disability.

RESULTS

Among 225 participants (122 male, 103 female) with CLBP, patients with major depressive disorder and associated leg symptoms of CLBP had higher disability indices. A tendency was noted that depression (HADS-depression) had the highest correlation to the three disability indices, followed by pain intensity, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. After controlling for demographic variables, HADS-depression explained the highest variance of disability, followed by pain intensity.

CONCLUSION

Depression was the most powerful factor associated with disability of CLBP among depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. Depression should be evaluated when investigating disability among patients with CLBP.

Chronic low back pain clinical outcomes present higher associations with the STarT Back Screening Tool than with physiologic measures: a 12-month cohort study

BACKGROUND

Stratification strategies based on identifying patient's prognosis in order to guide patient care constitute one of the most prominent and recent approach in low back pain research. The STarT Back Screening Tool (SBST) although promising, has not been studied in patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP). Considering how challenging it is to translate research into practice, the value of integrating a new tool should be thoroughly assessed. The purpose was therefore to assess associations between the short- and long-terms clinical status and two types of variables, physiologic measures and the SBST, in participants with cLBP. The ability of both types of variables to discriminate between participants with and without higher levels of disability, pain, fear of movement and patient's global impression of change was also investigated.

METHODS

Fifty-three volunteers with cLBP participated in an initial evaluation and follow-ups at 2-, 4-, 6- and 12-month. Physiologic measures (maximal voluntary contraction, maximal endurance and muscle activity evaluated during prone and lateral isometric tasks) and the SBST were assessed at baseline. Disability (Oswestry Disability Index, ODI), pain intensity (101-point Numerical Rating Scale, NRS), fear of movement (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, TSK) and patient's global impression of change (7-point scale, PGIC) were evaluated at baseline and at each follow-up. Aside the use of correlation analyses to assess potential associations; ROC curves were performed to evaluate the discriminative ability of physiologic measures and the SBST.

RESULTS

The SBST allowed for the identification of participants presenting higher levels of disability (ODI ≥24 %), pain (NRS ≥37 %) or fear of movement (TSK ≥41/68) over a 12-month period (AUC = 0.71 to 0.84, ps < 0.05). The SBST score was also correlated with disability at each follow-up (τ = 0.22 to 0.33, ps < 0.05) and with pain intensity and fear of movement at follow-ups. Among physiologic measures, only maximal voluntary contraction was correlated to disability, pain intensity or fear of movement during the follow-up (|τ| = 0.26 to 0.32, ps < 0.05) and none was able to identify participants presenting higher levels of outcomes (AUC ps > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Physiologic measures obtained during prone and lateral tests have limited associations with the clinical status over a 12-month period in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain. On the other hand, the STarT Back Screening Tool is useful for the identification of patients who will present higher levels of disability, pain intensity and fear of movement over a year.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02226692.

Functional capacity and its associated factors in the elderly with low back pain

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the level of functional capacity in subjects aged 60 years and older, who have lower back pain, and its association with demographic, socioeconomic, work-related, lifestyle-related and disease mentioned variables.

METHODS:

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 246 elderly registered at the Family Health Strategy of Vila São Paulo, Bauru,SP, Brazil, who reported lower back pain and were sampled by a two-stage cluster technique. The subjects were interviewed at home by using a multidimensional instrument (demographic; socioeconomic aspects; life style; work characterization; disease mentioned), and also the IPAQ, the Nordic and the Roland Morris questionnaires. A bivariate and multivariate descriptive logistic regression analysis was carried out.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of lower back pain in men was of 25.1% and in women it was of 35.1%. The mean score in the functional capacity assessment was 10.46 ± 5.62. A fraction of 67.5% of the elderly demonstrated an inappropriate functional capacity. The age group from 70 to 80 years old, the subjects reporting three or more diseases and the sedentary group presented an independent association with inappropriate functional capacity.

CONCLUSION:

The older, sedentary subjects and who reported more than three diseases presented low functional capacity. Level of Evidence III, Cross Sectioning.

Performance based on sEMG activity is related to psychosocial components: differences between back and abdominal endurance tests

The influence of psychosocial components on back and abdominal endurance tests in patients with persistent non-specific low back pain should be investigated to ensure the correct interpretation of these measures. Three-hundred and thirty-two patients (291 men and 41 women) from 19 to 63years performed an abdominal and back muscle endurance test after completing some psychosocial questionnaires. During the endurance tests, surface electromyography signals of the internal obliques, the external obliques, the lumbar multifidus and the iliocostalis were recorded. Patients were dichotomized as underperformers and good performers, by comparing their real endurance time, to the expected time of endurance derived from the normalized median frequency slope. Independent t-tests were performed to examine the differences on the outcome of the questionnaires. In the back muscle endurance test, the underperformers had significantly lower (p<0.05) scores on some of the physical subscales of the SF-36. The underperformers group of the AE test scored significantly higher on the DRAM MZDI (p=0.018) and on the PCS scale (p=0.020) and showed also significantly lower scores on the SF-36 (p<0.05). Back muscle endurance tests are influenced by physical components, while abdominal endurance tests seem influenced by psychosocial components.

Incapacidade funcional, sintomas depressivos e dor lombar em idosos

INTRODUÇÃO: A dor lombar modifica e limita aspectos tanto físicos quanto psicossociais da vida do idoso, impondo muitas vezes mudanças que causam transtornos pessoais, familiares e redução da capacidade funcional. OBJETIVO: Verificar a prevalência de dor lombar (DL) não específica em uma amostra de idosos da comunidade e determinar a correlação existente entre as variáveis: sexo, índice de massa corpórea (IMC), incapacidade funcional e sintomas depressivos. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Participaram deste estudo 54 idosos da comunidade (72 ± 5,2 anos). As características clínicas e sociodemográficas foram avaliadas por meio de questionário semiestruturado e a DL, por meio do Questionário de McGill. Para a medida de incapacidade em indivíduos com disfunções na coluna foi usado o Questionário de Roland Morris - Brasil (RM-BR). Sintomas depressivos e o nível geral de atividade física foram avaliados, respectivamente, por meio da versão reduzida da Escala de Depressão Geriátrica (GDS-15) e pelo Perfil de Atividade Humana. RESULTADOS: Evidenciou-se correlação alta e positiva entre a presença de DL, incapacidade funcional (RM-BR) (rs = 0,774; p = 0,00) e presença de sintomas depressivos (GDS-15) (rs = 0,271; p = 0,048). Nenhuma correlação foi evidenciada entre IMC (rs = 0,178; p = 0,197), sexo (rs = -0,073; p = 0,599) e DL. CONCLUSÃO: Observou-se prevalência alta de DL não específica na amostra de idosos estudada. Incapacidade funcional e depressão são condições fortemente associadas com DL em idosos da comunidade; cabe, portanto, desenvolver outras abordagens a fim de alcançar melhor efetividade das propostas terapêuticas.

Trunk muscle fatigue during a lateral isometric hold test: what are we evaluating?

Background

Side bridge endurance protocols have been suggested to evaluate lateral trunk flexor and/or spine stabilizer muscles. To date, no study has investigated muscle recruitment and fatigability during these protocols. Therefore the purpose of our study was to quantify fatigue parameters in various trunk muscles during a modified side bridge endurance task (i.e. a lateral isometric hold test on a 45° roman chair apparatus) and determine which primary trunk muscles get fatigued during this task. It was hypothesized that the ipsilateral external oblique and lumbar erector spinae muscles will exhibit the highest fatigue indices.

Methods

Twenty-two healthy subjects participated in this study. The experimental session included left and right lateral isometric hold tasks preceded and followed by 3 maximal voluntary contractions in the same position. Surface electromyography (EMG) recordings were obtained bilaterally from the external oblique, rectus abdominis, and L2 and L5 erector spinae. Statistical analysis were conducted to compare the right and left maximal voluntary contractions (MVC), surface EMG activities, right vs. left holding times and decay rate of the median frequency as the percent change from the initial value (NMF_slope).

Results

No significant left and right lateral isometric hold tests differences were observed neither for holding times (97.2 ± 21.5 sec and 96.7 ± 24.9 sec respectively) nor for pre and post fatigue root mean square during MVCs. However, participants showed significant decreases of MVCs between pre and post fatigue measurements for both the left and right lateral isometric hold tests. Statistical analysis showed that a significantly NMF_slope of the ipsilateral external oblique during both conditions, and a NMF_slope of the contralateral L5 erector spinae during the left lateral isometric hold test were steeper than those of the other side’s respective muscles. Although some participants presented positive NMF_slope for some muscles, each muscle presented a mean negative NMF_slope significantly different from 0.

Conclusions

Although the fatigue indices suggest that the ipsilateral external oblique and contralateral L5 erector spinae show signs of muscle fatigue, this task seems to recruit a large group of trunk muscles. Clinicians should not view this task as evaluating specifically lateral trunk flexors, but rather as providing an indication of the general endurance and stabilisation capacity of the trunk.