Aberrant Lumbopelvic Movements Predict Prospective Functional Decline in Older Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain.
Patrick J Knox, Ryan T Pohlig, Jenifer M Pugliese and 3 others
PMID 34547273WHAT IT FOUND
Four observed aberrant lumbopelvic movements at baseline were linked to worse physical function one year later in older adults with chronic low back pain.
Higher movement scores were associated with worse function.
Key findings
01Aberrant lumbopelvic movements were observed in 64.9% of participants, with an average aberrant movement score of 0.97 (±0.90).
02A higher baseline aberrant movement score was significantly associated with worse physical function at 1 year.
03Participants with aberrant movements had significantly worse baseline performance-based and perception-based function.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
This was an observational secondary analysis, so it cannot show that aberrant movements cause functional decline. Of the 250 enrolled participants, 239 were included in the analysis. The cohort was recruited for research rather than from people seeking medical care for low back pain, so it may not match a typical clinic population. The analysis did not include all known prognostic factors for low back pain. The participants were older adults with chronic low back pain who met screening criteria, and people with fractures, progressive neurological disorders, terminal illness, or mobility requiring more than a cane were excluded. The authors say the findings are specific to tertiary prevention and may not apply to primary or secondary prevention.
Declared interests
The authors declared that they have no financial relationships, nor other conflicts of interest, to disclose.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that treating aberrant movements will prevent functional decline. This study was observational and did not test a treatment, so it shows association, not cause.