ABSTRACT
Objectives: This study aimed to examine correlations between lumbar kinematics, functional disability and fear avoidance beliefs among adults with nonspecific chronic low back pain [LBP]
Methods: This crosssectional study was conducted between March and December 2014. A total of 32 adults diagnosed with nonspecific chronic LBP were recruited from outpatients attending either an orthopaedic clinic at a university hospital or a private physiotherapy clinic in Malaysia. Lumbar kinematics were measured using sensors attached at the first lumbar [L1] and second sacral [S2] vertebrae levels. The Oswestry Disability Index [ODI] and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire [FABQ] were used to assess degree of functional disability and fear avoidance beliefs, respectively
Results: For maximum range of motion, positive correlations were observed between ODI scores and right lateral flexion and right rotation [P = 0.01 each], although there was a negative correlation with left rotation [P = 0.03]. With maximum angular velocity, ODI scores were positively correlated with right and left lateral flexion L1 [P = 0.01 and <0.01, respectively] but negatively correlated with left lateral flexion L2 [P = 0.04]. Regarding minimum angular velocity, ODI scores were positively correlated with left lateral flexion S2 [P <0.01] but negatively correlated with right and left lateral flexion L1 [P = 0.02 each], right rotation L1 [P = 0.02] and left rotation S2 [P = 0.01]. No significant correlations were found between lumbar kinematics and FABQ scores
Conclusion: These findings suggest that certain lumbar kinematic parameters are correlated with functional disability, but not with fear avoidance beliefs