Back Stiffness Is Associated with Physical Health and Low Back Pain-Related Disability in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.
Back stiffness is a common complaint among older adults with low back pain. Nonetheless, self-reported back stiffness has received little exploration in this patient population. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of self-reported low back stiffness with physical health and low back pain-related disability among older adults with low back pain.



Cross-sectional analysis.



Data included in this study were obtained from the Retirement Community Back Pain Study, a population-based survey of older adults.



Participants completed the Medical Outcomes Survey Short-Form 36 and the modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Questionnaire. Physical health, derived from the Short Form-36, was represented by the physical component summary score. Back stiffness was rated on a 0-10 scale, where 0 indicated "no back stiffness."



Covariates-that is, intensity and duration of low back pain, age, sex, weight, education level, and comorbidities-explained 27% of the variance in physical health ( P  < 0.0001) and 38% of the variance in low back pain-related disability ( P  = 0.0002). Self-reported stiffness explained an additional 6% of the variance in physical health ( P  < 0.0001) and 10% of the variance in low back pain-related disability ( P  < 0.0001).



Back stiffness in older, community-dwelling adults with low back pain may help explain physical health and low back pain-related disability, above and beyond demographics and pain. Future longitudinal research is needed to evaluate low back stiffness as a predictor of physical health and disability. Ultimately, assessment and treatment of back stiffness in older adults with low back pain may improve patient outcomes.
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Jaclyn Megan
JM
Sions
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Gregory Evan
GE
Hicks
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D017677:Age Distribution; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014768:Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology
Arthritis; Geriatric; Spine