Consistent differences in lumbar spine alignment between low back pain subgroups and genders during clinical and functional activity sitting tests.
Quenten L Hooker, Vanessa M Lanier, Linda R van Dillen
PMID 33548765WHAT IT FOUND
People with low back pain classified into the Rotation-Extension subgroup sit with a more extended lumbar spine than those in the Rotation subgroup.
This difference holds true during both clinical tests and functional preferred sitting, regardless of gender.
Key findings
01Participants in the Rotation-Extension subgroup displayed a smaller (more extended) lumbar curvature angle compared to the Rotation subgroup.
02The difference in lumbar alignment between subgroups did not depend on the sitting test used or on the participant's gender.
03Women displayed a more extended lumbar alignment on average than men across the tests.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study excluded individuals with a BMI greater than 30, so findings may not generalize to this population. There was no back-healthy control group included in this analysis. Lumbar alignment was estimated using surface markers, which can be affected by skin movement artifact. The sitting tests used standardized seat heights and limb positions, which may not reflect how patients naturally sit in their daily environments.
Declared interests
No specific funding or conflict of interest statements were provided in the text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that these alignment differences indicate a cause of pain or that correcting the alignment will resolve symptoms. The study only describes the consistency of postural patterns between clinical tests and functional sitting.