title: Muscle Functions and Functional Performance among Older Persons with and without Low Back Pain.
abstract: This study aims to compare muscle functions and functional performances between older persons with and without low back pain (LBP) and to determine the association between muscle functions and functional performances. This is a cross-sectional study, involving 95 older persons (age = 70.27 ± 7.26 years). Anthropometric characteristics, muscle functions, and functional performances were measured. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and multiple linear regression. The functional performances showed no significant differences (females LBP versus non-LBP, males LBP versus non-LBP) (p< 0.05). For muscle functions, significant differences were found (females LBP versus non-LBP) for abdominal muscle strength (p= 0.006) and back muscle strength (p= 0.07). In the LBP group, significant correlations were found between back and abdominal muscle strength and hand grip strength (r= 0.377 andr= 0.396, resp.), multifidus control and lower limb function (r= 0.363) in females, and back muscle strength and lower limb function (r= 0.393) in males (allp< 0.05). Regression analysis showed that abdominal and back muscle strengths were significant predictors of hand grip strength (p= 0.041 andp= 0.049, resp.), and multifidus control was a significant predictor of lower limb function in females (p= 0.047). This study demonstrates that older women with LBP exhibit poorer muscle functions compared to older women without LBP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300 Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nor Azizah
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7701-9373
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ishak
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300 Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Zarina
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6814-7055
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zahari
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300 Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2412-8653
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Justine