European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the Non-specific chronic low back pain and physical activity
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) PMCH Patna, Bihar, India for 15 months.





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 40 subjects with NSCLBP and 25 age, Body Mass Index (BMI), and gender-matched healthy controls participated in this study. Each group consisted of 20 males and 20 females (age range, 21 -46 years). Subjects with NSCLBP were included if they presented with LBP of at least 3/10 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for a duration of >3 months. Subjects in the control group had to be free of LBP for at least 1-year before participation and never had an episode of LBP that lasted more than 3 months in the past.
Results: 40 participants with a mean age 29.5 ± 5.0 years old and BMI of 26.3 ± 2.5 kg/m² completed this study. Fifty percent of the participants were females (n = 20) and 50% were active (n = 20). The distribution of all quantitative variables was approximately normal. There was no significant difference in demographic and general characteristics between the 2 groups.  There was no significant group physical activity interaction effect for all directions (P > .05). However, there was a significant difference in mean reach distance by physical activity level (active vs inactive) in all directions (right A, 69.5 ± 6.5 vs 63.9 ± 5.9, P = .003, partial h² =0.18; right PM, 113.1 ± 11.3 vs 99.1 ± 12.3, P <.001, h² = 0.28; right PL, 111.1 ± 11.8 vs 95.1 ± 12.1 P < .001, h² = 0.33; and right composite score, 100.2 ± 8.9 vs 87.9 ± 8.8, P < .001, h² = 0.36, respectively). There were no inter limb differences (P > .05). There was no significant group physical activity interaction effect for sway velocity during right and left eye open and closed, and during left eye open (P > .05). However, there was a significant difference in mean sway velocity by physical activity level (active vs inactive) during both eyes 





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closed conditions (right eye closed 2.7 ± 2.7 vs 5.0 ± 4.9, P = .02, h² = 0.12; left eye closed 2.9 ± 2.8 vs 5.1 ± 4.3, P = .01, h² = 0.12, respectively). There were no interlimb differences (P >.05). Nevertheless, there was a group physical activity interaction effect in mean sway velocity during left eye closed (P =.04).
Conclusion: Based on our present findings, postural control was not significantly different between active individuals with and without NSCLBP. However, inactive individuals with NSCLBP exhibited diminished postural control compared to age-matched inactive healthy controls.