The self-reported aggravating activities of people with chronic non-specific low back pain do not involve consistent directions of spinal movement: an observational study.
OBJECTIVE
Do the self-reported aggravating activities of people with chronic non-specific low back pain move the spine in a consistent direction?


METHODS
Cross-sectional observational study.


METHODS
240 people with chronic non-specific low back pain.


METHODS
The self-reported aggravating activities from the Patient Specific Functional Scale were classified as flexion, extension or unilateral according to the direction of lumbar spine movement. PARTICIPANTS were described as demonstrating a directional pattern if all three self-reported aggravating activities moved the spine in the same direction.


RESULTS
Of the 148 participants with three classifiable aggravating activities, 47 (32%) demonstrated a directional pattern with 46 (98%) demonstrating a flexion pattern and 1 (2%) an extension pattern. The observed incidence of a directional pattern in the three self-reported aggravating activities of the 148 participants (32%) was no different from what would have been expected by chance. There were no clinical or demographic differences between those who demonstrated a directional pattern and those who did not.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no evidence for the existence of a consistent direction of spinal movement during the self-reported aggravating activities of people with chronic non-specific low back pain.
Wand
Benedict M
BM
Health Sciences, The University of Notre Dame, Freemantle, WA 6959, Australia. bwand@nd.edu.au
Hunter
Rebecca
R
O'Connell
Neil E
NE
Marston
Louise
L
McAuley
James
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010147:Pain Measurement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011187:Posture; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires