Pain Intensity and Postural Sway in Low Back Pain Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Alexander Ruhe, René Fejer, Bruce Walker
Primary Institution: Murdoch University
Hypothesis
Is there a relationship between pain intensity and postural sway in patients with non-specific low back pain?
Conclusion
Increased pain intensity is associated with greater postural sway in patients with non-specific low back pain.
Supporting Evidence
- Postural instability was confirmed in pain sufferers compared to healthy controls.
- Regression analysis showed a significant increase in postural sway with higher pain ratings.
- Statistically significant changes in sway velocity and area were observed with incremental changes in pain scores.
Takeaway
If you have back pain, standing still might be harder for you. The more pain you feel, the more you might sway when you stand.
Methodology
77 patients with non-specific low back pain and 77 healthy controls were measured for postural sway using a force plate while standing still with eyes closed.
Potential Biases
The subjective nature of pain perception may have influenced the results.
Limitations
The study could not enroll enough participants for all pain intensity groups, particularly those with very high pain scores.
Participant Demographics
77 patients with non-specific low back pain (37 females, 45%) and 77 healthy controls, aged 50 or less.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI for mVel ML: 0.79-0.99; 95% CI for mVel AP: 0.76-0.88
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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