Association among pain, disability, and functional capacity in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) have pain, disability, and decreased functional capacity, however, the association is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the association between pain, disability, and functional capacity in patients with CNSLBP. METHODS: Thirty participants with CNSLBP were interviewed for demographic data and assessed for pain intensity by visual analog scale (VAS), disability level by Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and functional capacity comprising functional reach (FR), five times sit-to-stand (5STS), and two-minute step (2MS). The association and linear regression were analyzed using the Spearman correlation coefficient, point-biserial correlation, and multiple linear regression, respectively. RESULTS: A significant association was found between VAS and ODI, VAS and 5STS, 5STS, and 2MS. For demographic data, some variables were significantly correlated to VAS and functional capacity. VAS was also correlated with sex and age, FR was correlated with height, 5STS was correlated with age, and 2MS was correlated with age, body mass index, and physical activity level. CONCLUSIONS: The association among pain intensity, disability level, functional capacity, and demographic data suggests that apart from pain and disability level, functional capacity is associated with pain, which can be recommended for objective assessment regarding some demographic variables that can contribute to clinical outcome measures.

Decreased Functional Capacity in Individuals with Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare functional capacity tests between individuals with and without chronic non-specific low back pain and to investigate the effects of demographic data on functional capacity tests. METHODS: Thirty individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) and thirty healthy individuals underwent three functional capacity tests comprising functional reach test (FRT), five-time sit to stand test (5 TSST), and two-minute step test (2 MST). CNSLBP were assessed in pain intensity using a visual analog scale (VAS) and disability level using the modified Oswestry disability questionnaire (MODQ) Thai version. RESULTS: The results found significant differences in five-time sit to stand and two-minute step tests between individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain and healthy individuals. The mean differences between healthy and CNSLBP for the 5 TSST were -3.24 seconds (95% CI=-4.47--2.02) and for the 2 MST they were 13.13 steps (95% CI=2.62-23.64). Age significantly influenced the 5 TSST (P=0.004) and 2 MST (P=0.008), while gender (P=0.028) and height (P=0.002) affected the FRT. CONCLUSION: Individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain had lower functional capacity assessed by five-time sit to stand and 2-minute step tests compared to healthy individuals, and the therapeutic programs were emphasized. With increasing age, the 5 TSST and 2 MST would both be declined.

Responsiveness of pain, functional capacity tests, and disability level in individuals with chronic nonspecific low back pain.

BACKGROUND: Clinical outcomes are very important in clinical assessment, and responsiveness is a component inside the outcome measures that needs to be investigated, particularly in chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the responsiveness of pain, functional capacity tests, and disability in individuals with CNSLBP. METHODS: Twenty subjects were assessed in pain using the following methods: visual analog scale (VAS) and numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), functional capacity tests: functional reach test (FRT), five-time sit-to-stand test (5 TSST), and two-minute step test (2 MST), and disability level: modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (MODQ), Thai version before and after 2-week intervention session. For interventions, the subjects received education, spinal manipulative therapy, and individual therapeutic exercise twice a week, for a total of two weeks. The statistics analyzed were change scores, effect size (ES), and standardized response mean (SRM). RESULTS: The most responsive parameter for individuals with CNSLBP was pain as measured by numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) (ES -0.986, SRM -0.928) and five-time sit-to-stand test (5 TSST) (SRM -0.846). CONCLUSION: This study found that NPRS pain and 5 TSST were responsive in individuals with CNSLBP at two weeks after the beginning of interventions.