Comparing pain severity and functional status of older adults without spinal symptoms, with lumbar spinal stenosis, and with axial low back pain.
BACKGROUND
Functional status has been quantified in the adult low back pain (LBP) population, but has not been characterized for older adults with spinal symptoms.


OBJECTIVE
To compare pain severity and functional status of older adults with and without spinal symptoms, and to determine what factors are associated with quality of life in the spinal stenosis and axial LBP groups.


METHODS
In 24 subjects greater than 55-years old with lumbar spinal stenosis, 12 with LBP, and 12 without spinal symptoms, obtain the following: pain severity with 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS), 15-minute walk test, 7-day walking distance, Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS), and Pain Disability Index (PDI).


RESULTS
The mean scores were worst for the stenosis group, were intermediate for the LBP group, and were the best for the asymptomatic group. Analysis of variance showed that the pain VAS (p < 0.001), 15-minute walk test (p = 0.01), 7-day walk (p = 0.02), QBPDS (p < 0.001), and PDI (p < 0.001) were different between at least two groups. All the variables in the stenosis group were worse than in the asymptomatic group, but only the pain VAS, QBPDS, and PDI in the LBP group were worse than in the asymptomatic group. In both the stenosis and LBP group the QBPDS and PDI were only related to pain VAS.


CONCLUSIONS
Seniors with spinal stenosis and LBP have more disability than asymptomatic seniors. The 15-minute walking test with the stenosis group was slower than with the asymptomatic seniors. However, they compensate so that their 7-day walking distance is not as significantly decreased.
Tong
Henry C
HC
Michigan Head and Spine Institute, Southfield 48034, USA. hctong2@medscape.com
Haig
Andrew J
AJ
Geisser
Michael E
ME
Yamakawa
Karen S J
KS
Miner
Jennifer A
JA
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D016138:Walking