title: A comparison of the effects of two sitting postures on back and referred pain.
abstract: This study compared the effects of sitting with portable supports in either a kyphotic or lordotic posture on low-back and referred pain. Two hundred ten patients with low-back and/or referred pain were randomly assigned to either a kyphotic posture or lordotic posture group. The kyphotic and lordotic postures were facilitated by the use of a flat foam cushion or lumbar roll, respectively. Pain location, back pain, and leg pain intensity were assessed over a 24-48-hour period under both standardized clinical settings and general sitting environments. When sitting with a lordotic posture, back and leg pain were significantly reduced and referred pain shifted towards the low back. This study demonstrates that in general sitting environments a lumbar roll results in: 1) reductions in back and leg pain; and 2) centralization of pain. These findings do not apply to patients with stenosis or spondylolisthesis, whose symptoms may be aggravated by use of a lumbar roll.
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Studies, Auckland Institute of Technology, New Zealand.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hawley
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: van Wijmen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001416:Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008141:Lordosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010146:Pain; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011187:Posture; D013997:Time Factors