title: Postural balance in low back pain patients: criterion-related validity of centre of pressure assessed on a portable force platform.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Altered postural control has been observed in low back pain (LBP) patients. They seem to be more dependent on vision when standing. The objective of the study was to determine concurrent and predictive validity of measures of postural stability in LBP patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Centre of Pressure (CoP) measurements were tested against pain, fear of pain, and physical function. Velocity, anterior-posterior displacement, and the Romberg Ratio obtained on a portable force platform were used as measures of postural stability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline and 12-week follow-up results of 97 LBP patients were evaluated. The correlations between CoP measurements and pain, fear of pain, and physical function were poor. There were no significant differences in CoP measurements between patients with no change or deterioration and patients with improvement in pain and back-specific function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This first study of concurrent and predictive validity of postural balance in LBP patients revealed no association between CoP measures and pain, fear of pain, and physical function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, and Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, Aarhus University, 8000, Arhus C, Denmark. Thomas.maribo@aarhus.rm.dk
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maribo
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schiøttz-Christensen
authors.forename: Lone Donbæk
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Niels Trolle
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stengaard-Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010810:Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013131:Spine / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult