Which Neuromuscular Attributes Are Associated With Changes in Mobility Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Symptomatic Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?
Catherine T Schmidt, Rachel E Ward, Pradeep Suri and 5 others
PMID 29753734WHAT IT FOUND
For older adults with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis, low trunk endurance, weak legs and stiff knees predicted mobility decline over two years.
These three attributes were also predictive in those without stenosis, suggesting rehabilitation targets should focus on these impairments regardless of diagnosis.
Key findings
01Trunk endurance, leg strength, and knee flexion range of motion were associated with changes in basic and advanced mobility over two years in participants with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis.
02Participants with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis had significantly lower trunk endurance (69.1 seconds) compared to those without (101.9 seconds).
03There was no significant difference in the rate of mobility decline between participants with and without symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis over the two-year follow-up.
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 was not population-based, so findings may not generalize to all older adults with lumbar spinal stenosis. The sample size for the SLSS group was small (54 participants), which may have limited the ability to detect other meaningful relationships. Imaging data was derived from clinical reports rather than standardized research scans, which could lead to misclassification of stenosis severity. Hip range of motion was not measured, despite being a potential contributor to mobility issues. The two-year follow-up may have been too short to capture significant differences in mobility decline rates between groups.
Declared interests
The study was supported by the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. No conflicts of interest were declared by the authors.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that the presence of symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis causes a faster rate of mobility decline than in other at-risk older adults. Both groups declined at similar rates, suggesting that general age-related factors and comorbidities play a significant role alongside the stenosis itself.