Postural sway does not differentiate individuals with chronic low back pain, single and multisite chronic musculoskeletal pain, or pain-free controls: a cross-sectional study of 229 subjects
The Spine Journal(2022)
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT
Physical activity in its various forms are the most recommended prevention and treatment strategy for chronic low back pain (CLBP). Standing postural stability is a prerequisite for many types of physical activities. Systematic reviews have investigated the evidence for an association between CLBP and postural stability but results remain inconclusive.
PURPOSE
Our primary objective was to compare postural stability between pain-free controls and subjects with CLBP with or without leg pain and single and multisite chronic musculoskeletal pain subjects. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the association between postural stability with CLBP intensity and duration, demographics, physical characteristics and validated health and pain-related patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).
STUDY DESIGN/SETTING
Cross-sectional study in a private chiropractic clinic setting
PATIENT SAMPLE
Subjects included 42 pain-free controls and 187 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain divided into CLBP with or without leg pain and single and multisite pain groups.
OUTCOME MEASURES
Pain intensity was measured using the numerical pain rating scale, PROMs Central Sensitization Inventory, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, The Depression Scale, EuroQol-5D, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, and Pain and Sleep Questionnaire Three-Item Index disability. Group differences were measured using area and velocity of sway on the force plate.
METHODS
Postural stability was assessed using a force plate on four 60-second bipedal quiet stance tests: eyes open on a stable surface, eyes closed on a stable surface, eyes open on an unstable foam surface, eyes closed on an unstable foam surface. Following the clinic visit, subjects completed an online web-based data entry detailing pain history, demographic data, physical characteristics, pain intensity via the numerical pain rating scale, and PROMS.
RESULTS
Postural sway parameters did not differ between pain-free controls and subjects with CLBP with or without leg pain and single and multisite chronic musculoskeletal pain subjects. Furthermore, severity and duration of CLBP pain in addition to central sensitization, kinesiophobia, depression, quality of life, disability, and effect of pain on sleep only had very weak associations with postural stability.
CONCLUSIONS
Chronic musculoskeletal pain appears not to influence bipedal postural stability.
MoreTranslated text
Key words
Central sensitization,Chronic low back pain,Chronic musculoskeletal pain,Demographics,Pain duration,Pain intensity,Physical characteristics,Postural control,Postural stability,Kinesiophobia
AI Read Science
Must-Reading Tree
Example
![](https://originalfileserver.aminer.cn/sys/aminer/pubs/mrt_preview.jpeg)
Generate MRT to find the research sequence of this paper
Chat Paper
Summary is being generated by the instructions you defined