title: Functional performance and plasma cytokine levels in elderly women with and without low back pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low back pain (LBP) is a complaint of great importance among the elderly due to its significant impact on function. LBP could contribute to changes in the regulatory process of inflammatory mediators observed in elders. The aim of this study was to compare plasma levels of interleukin(IL)-6, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1(sTNF-R1), and functionality among 3 groups of elderly women: GI, with LBP; GII, without LBP but reports of other pain; and GIII, without any reported pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational study of a subsample of the international Back Complaints in the Elders cohort study. IL-6 and sTNF-R1 were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Functionality was assessed using the Timed Up and Go, gait speed and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire; and pain, using the numerical pain scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and thirteen women aged 71.35 ± 4.76 years were included. GI presented the highest sTNF-R1 levels (p=0.016), worst TUG performance (p< 0.001) and slowest gait speed (p< 0.01) compared to GII and GIII, which were similar (p > 0.05). No difference was found between the IL-6 plasma levels in any of the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly women with LBP had the highest sTNF-R1 plasma levels and the worst functional performance compared to elderly women with reports of other pain (not LBP) or no pain.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bárbara Zille
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniele Sirineu
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nayza Maciel de Britto
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata Antunes
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diogo Carvalho
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Felício
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danielle Gomes
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Marcos Domingues
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosângela Correa
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leani Souza Máximo
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I
keywords: Aged; BACE; cytokines; functional performance; low back pain