title: Static and dynamic balance deficiencies in chronic low back pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  According to previously conducted studies, people with Low Back Pain (LBP) present with static balance deficiencies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to compare static, as well as dynamic balance ability between Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) and healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CLBP group comprised 17 subjects and the control group of 16 subjects, matched for age, BMI and gender. The protocol applied compared the balance ability when performing the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and the static 1-leg stance position. The innovation introduced in the protocol was that the participants performed not only the static 1-leg stance, but also the dynamic SEBT on a force plate which recorded the target sway (TS), i.e. the Center of Pressure (CoP) excursion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CLBP group had significantly reduced performance in SEBT, coupled with greater static and dynamic TS values. Age and especially BMI also bear a significant effect on SEBT execution. The inclusion of SEBT and TS derived scores in a stepwise logistic regression equation lead to the correct classification of 85% of the subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dynamic and static balance ability provide supplementary information for the identification of the presence of CLBP, with dynamic balance being more instrumental.
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, School of Health Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsigkanos
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, School of Health Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gaskell
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smirniotou
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsigkanos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Proprioception; Star Excursion Balance Test; body sway