Classifying subgroups of chronic low back pain patients based on lifting patterns.
OBJECTIVE
To compare self-reported measures of chronic lower back pain (CLBP) patients who were assigned to 2 subgroups based on their lifting patterns performed during a repetitive lifting task.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Research laboratory


METHODS
CLBP subjects (n=81) and pain-free controls (n=53).


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Measures of lifting patterns and self-reported disability, pain, and psychosocial aspects.


RESULTS
Two CLBP subgroups were found: 1 group that lifts similarly to control subjects (n=35) and 1 group that lifts very differently from controls (n=46). The CLBP group that lifted differently than controls reported higher pain intensity (P=.005), higher pain severity (P=.025), and lower self-efficacy (P=.013) than the CLBP group that lifted similarly to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
A classification system based on lifting patterns identified 2 CLBP subgroups that were significantly different on lifting and self-reported measures, indicating the importance of physical functioning measures in classification systems.
Slaboda
Jill C
JC
Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. jslaboda@temple.edu
Boston
J Robert
JR
Rudy
Thomas E
TE
Lieber
Susan J
SJ
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000145:classification* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008390:Markov Chains; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis