Determinants of change in perceived disability of patients with non-specific chronic low back pain.
OBJECTIVE
Change in psychophysical capacity, calculated as the ratio between physical capacity and perceived effort, may be a determinant of change in perceived disability. The aim of this study was to identify determinants for change in perceived disability, as measured with the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain after rehabilitation.


METHODS
Data were gathered for 84 outpatients. Psychophysical capacity (psychophysical static leg lift, psychophysical static trunk lift, and psychophysical dynamic lifting capacity), physical lifting capacity, perceived lifting effort, aerobic capacity and RMDQ were assessed. Associations between change in RMDQ and potential determinants were calculated. Variables associated with change in RMDQ were entered in a multivariate linear regression analysis (backward).


RESULTS
Change in psychophysical static trunk lift (r = -0.51), psychophysical dynamic lifting capacity (r = -0.53) and psycho-physical static leg lift capacity (r = -0.23) were significantly associated with change in RMDQ. The RMDQ score at baseline (beta = -0.438), change in psychophysical dynamic lifting capacity (beta = -0.109), psychophysical static trunk lift capacity (beta = -0.038), psychophysical static leg lift capacity (beta = -0.012) and static leg lift capacity (beta = 0.007) all contributed significantly to the regression model (r2 = 52%).


CONCLUSIONS
Improvements in psychophysical lifting capacity are determinants for a reduction in perceived disability.
Hodselmans
Audy P
AP
Research and Innovation Group in Health Care and Nursing, Hanze University Groningen Applied Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. A.P.Hodselmans@pl.hanze.nl
Dijkstra
Pieter U
PU
Geertzen
Jan H B
JH
Schiphorst Preuper
Henrica R
HR
van der Schans
Cees P
CP
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D017770:Lifting; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires