title: Key characteristics of low back pain and disability in college-aged adults: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify which factors commonly associated with low back pain (LBP) and disability differ between college-aged persons with LBP and with no or minimal LBP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical measurement, observational study. Subjects were assessed for LBP with the visual analog scale (VAS) and for disability from LBP using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Subjects were measured for variables commonly associated with LBP and were grouped by both VAS (minimum [min]/no pain, pain) and ODI (no disability, disability) scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  College campus at a university.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample (N=84) of English-speaking students (34 men, 50 women) between 18 and 30 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sports activity (sports activity score of the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire), depression, hamstring and hip flexor range of motion, low back extensor endurance, abdominal strength and endurance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant main effect of group was found for both pain (P=.019) and disability groups (P=.006). The min/no pain and pain groups differed in back endurance (114.2±38.8s vs 94.5±44.5s, respectively; P=.04). The no disability and disability groups differed in back endurance (116.3±35.9s vs 97.1±45.7s, respectively; P=.03) and the sports activity score of the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire (2.98±.95 vs 2.48±.85, respectively; P=.01). Subjects with hyperkyphotic postures compared with the normative thoracic group had higher depression scores (49 vs 38.5, respectively; P=.03) and less hamstring flexibility (30.5 vs 49.9, respectively; P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Back extensor endurance was consistently different between both the pain and disability groups. Addressing limited low back extensor endurance and low levels of physical activity in young adults may have clinical relevance for the prevention and treatment of LBP and disability.
authors.affiliation: New York Institute of Technology, School of Health Professions, Department of Physical Therapy, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA. jhandrak@nyit.edu
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Handrakis
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Friel
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hoeffner
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Akinkunle
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Genova
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Isakov
authors.forename: Jerrill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vitulli
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult