The occurrence of overload at work and musculoskeletal pain in young physiotherapists.

BACKGROUND: A job requiring stooping, lifting, carrying loads and multiple repetitions of the same movement patterns leads to overloading the musculoskeletal system. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the work-related load experienced by physiotherapists and the occurrence of the musculoskeletal system overload. METHODS: The study included 108 young physiotherapists, 69 women and 39 men, aged from 25 to 35 years (mean 27.12 ± 3.72 years). The study used an anonymous questionnaire and Quick Exposure Check. RESULTS: The most common musculoskeletal complaints were as follows: 70 physiotherapists (64.8%) reported low back pain, 60 (55.6%) cervical pain, and 34 (31.5%) pain in the wrists and fingers. Statistically significant positive correlations were revealed between the number of years worked in the profession and shoulder pain. The number of hours of work per week was positively correlated with the occurrence of pain in all analyzed body areas. Professional experience was negatively correlated with the level of stress felt. Physiotherapists dealing with manual therapy and exercise physiotherapy were particularly vulnerable to musculoskeletal overload. CONCLUSIONS: Popularization of knowledge regarding ergonomics among physiotherapists could reduce the occurrence of musculoskeletal overload.

The effect of unilateral osteoarthritis of the hip on postural balance disorders.

BACKGROUND: Postural stability is of great importance because imbalances and muscle weakness are significant risk factors for falls experienced by the elderly. Hip arthrosis, which causes pain and gait disorders that affect balance control, is common in the ageing population. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess postural stability in patients with unilateral hip arthrosis before total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: The study population consisted of 52 patients with hip arthrosis (study group) and 47 subjects with no history of clinical symptoms of hip pain. The groups did not differ statistically in terms of age and BMI. Static balance was assessed by conducting a quantitative analysis of balance reaction parameters in a quiet standing position with the eyes open and closed. RESULTS: Analysis of the collected data revealed numerous statistically significant differences between patients with unilateral hip arthrosis before total hip arthoplasty and the asymptomatic group for parameters tested with eyes closed (p<0.05). We observed higher values of total length of centre of pressure (COP), sway path (SP), length of COP path in the medial-lateral plane (SPML), maximal amplitude between the 2 most distant points in the medial-lateral plane (MaxML), mean COP velocity (MV), and mean COP velocity in medial-lateral (MVML) in the study group.

Spinal tuberculosis with severe neurological symptoms as a complication of intravesical BCG therapy for carcinoma of the bladder.

INTRODUCTION: Non-invasive bladder cancer is effectively treated with intravesical BCG therapy. The administration of the BCG vaccine is to destroy the neoplastic lesion or prevent further recurrences. The activity of the vaccine involves boosting the immune system through the stimulation of the inflammation in the bladder. Adverse reactions after this immunotherapy are rare. The aim of the study was to present complications in the form of spinal tuberculosis and serious neurological symptoms that occurred during intravesical BCG immunotherapy for carcinoma of the bladder. The manuscript also describes a method for neurosurgical spinal cord decompression of the thoracic spine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the first patient, aged 66, after intravesical BCG therapy for bladder carcinoma, back pain and spastic paralysis of the lower limbs were observed. The MRI and CT revealed destruction of the intervertebral disc and vertebral endplates Th11-Th12. Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex bacilli were cultured from the material obtained by puncture aspiration. In the second patient, aged 35 years, during intravesical BCG immunotherapy for carcinoma of the bladder, girdle thoracic spine pain was observed. The MRI and CT of the spine showed visible lesions characteristic of tuberculosis. Immobilization in a plaster corset and implementation of antituberculous treatment resulted in quick relief of the pain and healing of the tuberculosis focus in the spine. CONCLUSION: The cases described in the work are the first documented reports in the Polish literature of spinal tuberculosis which occurred as a complication of intravesical administration of bacilli Calmette-Guérin. The diagnosis was based on the finding of BCG vaccine bacillus with molecular methods or PCR. Full antimycobacterial treatment was implemented.

Assessment of postural stability in patients with lumbar spine chronic disc disease.

PURPOSE: The pain, motor and sensory deficits are common symptoms of the lumbar disc disorder, and they can significantly affect human postural control. The aim of this study was to assess postural stability in patients with severe symptoms of lumbar spine disc disease qualifying them for surgical treatment and to compare them with a control group. METHODS: The study involved 103 subjects: 54 patients and 49 healthy subjects. Patient's mean age was 46.4 ± 11.3 years, mean body height 172.2 ± 10.3 cm, mean body mass 83.1 ± 18.9 kg, and mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.9 ± 5.2 kg m-2. The mean time of their recent pain episode was 9.7 ± 8.5 months. RESULTS: We found statistically significant differences between postural stability in patients with lumbar spine disc disease and the control group. The measurements taken with eyes closed, as compared with the clinical control group, revealed higher and statistically significant values of the mean amplitude of COP, mean amplitude of COP on sagittal plane, and maximal sway in sagittal plane parameters. The analysis of pressure value differences between the right and left lower limbs in both groups revealed statistical significance. In the study population the difference was significantly greater in comparison to the control group. The patients had significantly greater asymmetry of lower limb load. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Patients with lumbar spine discogenic pain had decreased postural control. 2. The patients had significant asymmetry in foot pressure resulting from pain radiating to a lower limb.

Changes of the body posture parameters in the standing versus relaxed sitting and corrected sitting position.

BACKGROUND: Decrease of physiological curvatures of the spine can lead to back pain. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the curvatures of the spine and body posture parameters in three positions: relaxed standing, relaxed sitting, corrected sitting. METHODS: The study included 40 healthy persons aged 18-32 years (mean 24.7 ± 2.3), with body height 152-195 cm (mean 171.8 ± 9.3), weight 47-115 kg (mean 66.4 ± 13.7), BMI 17.9-32.5 kg/m2 (mean 22.3 ± 3.0). The study was performed using the photogrammetric method. RESULTS: After changing the position from relaxed standing to relaxed sitting, significant decrease of the inclination of the thoracolumbar region, the thoracic kyphosis depth and the lumbar lordosis depth were observed. Lumbar lordosis angle increased significantly. After the sitting position correction, the inclination of the upper thoracic and thoracolumbar region decreased, and the depth of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis increased. CONCLUSIONS: - In the relaxed sitting position, the lumbar lordosis was significantly smaller than in the standing position. - A change from the standing to the sitting position results in flattening of thoracic kyphosis. - The corrected sitting position does not adequately correct the spinal curvatures.

Strategies for Coping with Chronic Lower Back Pain in Patients with Long Physiotherapy Wait Time.

BACKGROUND Treatment efficacy for the increasing prevalence of back pain is a great challenge for both health care providers and individuals coping with this problem. This study aimed to evaluate pain coping strategies used by primary care patients with chronic lower back pain (CLBP) as a supplementation of medical diagnosis before a physiotherapy programme. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 88 people were divided into 3 age groups: young adults (21-40 years old), middle-aged adults (41-60 years old), and the elderly (over 60 years old). Data was gathered from rehabilitation centers and primary medical care facilities. A cross-sectional design was used. The Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ) was completed before the physiotherapy course. RESULTS Patients complained of CLBP for 11.32±6.81 years on average. The most common strategies to cope with back pain included declaring that the pain is manageable, praying and hoping, as well as increased behavioral activity. Statistically significant differences in coping strategies were found between age groups. The elderly patients were more likely to "declare coping with pain" in comparison to the younger age groups (p<0.01). People over 60 years of age were more likely to declare active coping with pain, while young people reported catastrophizing. CONCLUSIONS Patients in different age groups had various difficulties in pain coping. Most of them required support in self-management of pain in addition to physiotherapy. The basic assessment of pain coping strategies should be consistently taken into account and included in rehabilitation protocols in chronic pain treatment.

Static balance after surgical decompression of lumbar spinal canal stenosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Spinal canal stenosis is the most common reason for spinal surgeries in patients over 65 years of age. The aim of the study was to assess static balance in patients prior to and after surgical decompression of lumbar spinal canal stenosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 30 patients suffering from spinal canal stenosis. Their static balance was measured, i.e. quantitative analysis of balance reaction parameters in quiet standing was performed. RESULTS: The analysis of the collected data did not reveal any statistically significant differences between parameters measured prior to and after the surgery (for p< 0.05). A tendency for a decrease of measured parameters was observed. The regularity of changes was determined; in addition, for this analysis, the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of the collected data did not reveal any statistically significant improvement of balance reactions after spinal canal stenosis surgery. In spite of pain reduction, there was no improvement in balance reactions, as behavioural patterns for balance reactions had been fossilised before surgery.

Influence of the Weight of a School Backpack on Spinal Curvature in the Sagittal Plane of Seven-Year-Old Children.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the paper was to determine a correlation between the weight of a child's backpack, their body weight, and certain features of their body posture. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 109 children, all aged seven years. The parameters of body posture were determined using the Zebris Ultrasonic System. RESULTS: The number of children carrying a school backpack in accordance with recommendations was 44 subjects (40.37%). Statistically significant changes were found in the total length of the spine (Z = 2.223, p = 0.026) and between backpack weight and changes in the following parameters: the total length of the spine (rs = -0.3999, p = 0.017), the length and the angle of the lumbar lordosis (rs = -0.3352, p = 0.049), the angle of the lumbar lordosis (rs = -0.5065, p = 0.002), and the sacral angle (rs = -0.4279, p = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Wearing a backpack heavier than 10% of one's body weight can cause shallowing of the lumbar lordosis and a tendency towards a vertical position of the sacrum. Monitoring the weight of children's school backpacks and enabling them to leave books and notebooks at school would probably be beneficial in reducing the daily burden put on children's spines.

Total hip arthroplasty in the treatment of degenerative disorders in rural and urban patients - A retrospective, randomised and controlled study.

INTRODUCTION: Farming is hard work which may lead to overstrain and osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. Hip osteoarthritis has been rarely discussed in the Polish literature. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the differences in hip osteoarthritis in urban and rural patients. The differences concern: prevalence, etiology, degree of degeneration and time spent in hospital. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Hospital records of 200 patients were analysed who were divided into 2 groups. Group A consisted of 79 rural patients: 39 males (49.4%) and 40 females (50.6%), mean age 66.09 (±9.48), mean BMI - 27.26 (±4.47). Group B consisted of 121 urban patients: 51 males (42.1%), and 70 females (57.9%), mean age 67.74 (±8.88); mean BMI - 27.33 (±4.21). RESULTS: There were no differences observed regarding hospitalization times, but statistically significant differences were noted concerning the causes of osteoarthritis in both the rural and urban patients. No statistically significant differences were found between the types of prosthetic implants. CONCLUSIONS: 1) There are no differences between rural and urban patients who received surgical treatment for hip osteoarthritis, although more patients operated upon were urban patients. 2) The degree of hip degeneration was greater in rural patients.

Comparison of parameters characterizing lumbar lordosis in radiograph and photogrammetric examination of adults.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test validity of photogrammetry compared with radiography as a method of measuring the Cobb angle and the size of anterior-posterior spine curvatures in adults. METHODS: The study included 50 volunteers, 23 men and 27 women whose mean age was 52.6 years. The average weight of the subjects was 81.3 kg, average body height was 172.0 cm, and the average body mass index was 27.4. Based on radiologic examination, the length and depth of lumbar lordosis were determined and the size of the Cobb angle of lumbar scoliosis. After the radiologic examination, a photogrammetric test was performed for each subject with the projection moire phenomenon. RESULTS: The Pearson correlation found statistically significant associations concerning the length of lordosis (P < .001) and the Cobb angle (P < .001). Correlation of the depth of lordosis indicated a strong trend (P = .063). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that the moire method of photogrammetric measurement produced similar findings to radiographic measurements in determining size of the Cobb angle and the length of lumbar lordosis.

Effect of asymmetrical backpack load on spinal curvature in school children.

BACKGROUND: Carrying a backpack is common among schoolchildren. The effect of backpack load on spine pain and posture defects in children is often raised in the literature. According to scientific research, the maximum backpack load that is safe for children must not exceed 10-15% of their body mass. There is a lack of scientific reports related to the effect of frequently wearing a backpack on one shoulder among children and young adults and its influence on the shape of the anterior-posterior curvatures of spine. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate body posture parameters in the sagittal plane for an asymmetrical backpack load equal to 10% of a child's body mass. METHODS: The study was conducted using 162 primary schoolchildren aged 11-13 years. Each participant underwent three tests that examined postural parameters, including habitual posture, with the backpack on the participant's right and left shoulder. Posture was measured with the CQ Elektronik; which uses photogrammetry to make anthropometric calculations based on an image of the examined surface. RESULTS: The asymmetrical backpack load resulted in a significant reduction of thoracic kyphosis (GKP: p=0.040). The angle of thoracic kyphosis increased between the measurements. The difference (GAMMA=0.054) revealed that the results were approaching significance. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the gravity of the problem, children should be educated on ergonomics by teachers, physiotherapist or nurses, including instructions on carrying a backpack and the effects of disregarding the basic rules on body posture, as part of their school curriculum. The acceptable backpack load, which is now believed to be 10% of the child's body mass, should be carefully considered by scientists. Our own results show that even a load of 10% of the body mass may induce negative changes in spinal posture.

Posture of patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The available literature is lacking in reports on the quantitative analysis of posture in patients with lumbar stenosis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze body posture in patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis. METHODS: The study involved 100 people: 49 persons with severe lumbar spine stenosis and 51 control subjects without any history of back pain. All participatants were evaluated by a photogrammetric method. RESULTS: Photogrammetric measurements showed statistically significant differences in the shape of the anterior-posterior curvatures of the spine. In the study group thoracic kyphosis was significantly greater (p = 0.043), and the depth of lumbar lordosis was significantly smaller (p = 0.038). The inclination of the thoracolumbar segment was also significantly lower (p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: 1. Measurements of body posture indicate a deepening of thoracic kyphosis and flattening of lumbar lordosis in lumbar stenosis patients. 2. Flattening of physiological lordosis seems to be caused by enlargment of the space of the spinal canal and dural sac in this position.

Does scoliosis-specific exercise treatment in adolescence alter adult quality of life?

OBJECTIVE: Health-related quality of life in adults, who in adolescence participated in a scoliosis-specific exercise program, was not previously studied. Design. Cross-sectional study, with retrospective data collection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Homogenous groups of 68 persons (43 women) aged 30.10 (25-39) years, with mild or moderate scoliosis, and 76 (38 women) able-bodied persons, aged 30.11 (24-38) years, who 16.5 (12-26) years earlier had completed scoliosis-specific exercise or observation regimes, participated. Their respiratory characteristics did not differ from predicted values. The WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, Oswestry Disability Questionnaire, and pain scale (VAS) were applied. RESULTS: The transformed WHOQOL-BREF scores ranged from 54.6 ± 11.19 in the physical domain in the mild scoliotic subgroup to 77.1 ± 16.05 in the social domain in the able-bodied subgroup. The ODQ values did not generally exceed 5.3 ± 7.53. Inter- and intragroup differences were nonsignificant. Age, marital status, education, and gender were significantly associated with the ODQ scores. Significant association between the ODQ and WHOQOL-BREF social relationships domain scores with the participation in exercise treatment was found. CONCLUSIONS: Participants with the history of exercise treatment generally did not differ significantly from their peers who were only under observation. This study cannot conclude that scoliosis-specific exercise treatment in adolescence alters quality of life in adulthood.

A comparative analysis of static balance between patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis and asymptomatic participants.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess static balance in patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis who qualified for surgical decompression of associated neural structures and compare them with asymptomatic participants. METHODS: This case-controlled study evaluated a sample of 50 patients with spinal canal stenosis (stenosis group) and 48 participants with no history of clinical symptoms of back pain. Static balance was assessed by conducting quantitative analysis of balance reaction parameters in quiet standing with the eyes closed. RESULTS: Higher values were observed in total length of center of pressure (COP) path, length of COP path in the anterior-posterior plane, mean amplitude of COP projection in the anterior-posterior plane, maximal amplitude between the 2 most distant points in the anterior-posterior plane, mean COP velocity, and sway area marked by the moving COP in the stenosis group compared with the asymptomatic group. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed statistically significant differences in static balance parameters between patients with spinal canal stenosis compared with the asymptomatic group.

Evaluation of functional outcomes in individuals 10 years after posterior lumbar interbody fusion with corundum implants and decompression: a comparison of 2 surgical techniques.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate lumbar spine-related functional disability in individuals 10 years after lumbar decompression and lumbar decompression with posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) with corundum implants surgery for degenerative stenosis and to compare the long-term outcome of these 2 surgical techniques. MATERIAL/METHODS: From 1998 to 2002, 100 patients with single-level lumbar stenosis were surgically treated. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups that did not differ in terms of clinical or neurological symptoms. Group A consisted of 50 patients who were treated with PLIF and the use of porous ceramic corundum implants; the mean age was 57.74 and BMI was 27.34. Group B consisted of 50 patients treated with decompression by fenestration; mean age was 51.28 and the mean BMI was 28.84. RESULTS: There was no statistical significance regarding age, BMI, and sex. Both treatments revealed significant improvements. In group A, ODI decreased from 41.01% to 14.3% at 1 year and 16.3 at 10 years. In group B, ODI decreased from 63.8% to 18.36% at 1 year and 22.36% at 10 years. The difference between groups was statistically significant. There were no differences between the groups regarding the Rolland-Morris disability questionnaire and VAS at 1 and 10 years after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term results evaluated according to the ODI, the Rolland-Morris disability questionnaire, and the VAS showed that the both methods significantly reduce patient disability, and this was maintained during next 10 years. The less invasive fenestration procedure was only slightly less favorable than surgical treatment of stenosis by both PLIF with corundum implants and decompression.

Balance assessment in hearing-impaired children.

According to the scientific reports the postural stability is inseparably associated with hearing organ's correct functioning. The aim of the study was to evaluate the degree of disorders occurring in balance reactions in this group of children with profound hearing loss compared to their healthy peers. The study worked with a total of 228 children, including 65 who are deaf (DCH) and 163 subjects without any hearing deficits (CON) in the control group. Stabilometric measurements were performed with the use of a force distribution platform. The results indicate statistically significant differences in terms of one parameter (the total path length) recorded in the test with the eyes open and a whole range of parameters recorded when the subjects had their eyes closed (the width, height, and area of the ellipse, the total path length, and the horizontal and vertical sway). The study results showed better values of the static balance parameters in deaf children as compared to their peers without hearing disorders and the differences were particularly evident in the test with the subject's eyes closed. The results suggest significantly better processing of sensory stimuli in postural reactions particularly from propioception, and to a lesser extent, from the vision system observed in the subjects as compared to their peers in the control group.

Characteristics of selected parameters of body posture in patients with hip osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis is the most common disorder of the musculoskeletal system. A unilateral change in the hip joint changes the position of the pelvis and spine, and therefore the patient's body posture. Due to the uneven loading of the lower limbs asymmetry occurs in the trunk. Detailed dependencies of that have not been thorougly described in the available literature. The aim of the study was to characterize the posture parameters in patients with unilateral osteoarthritis of the hip. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 40 patients with unilateral hip osteoarthritis. There were 21 women and 19 men in the group, aged 41-80 years. The mean patient age was 65.39+/-8.69, the mean body mass was 82.98 ± 11.79 kg, the mean body height was 167.64 ± 8.59, and the mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 29.6 ± 4.36. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found on a number of parameters: lumbar inclination, thoraco-lumbar inclination and torso inclination were lower in patients with hip arthrosis, comparing to control group. Angle of thoracic kyphosis, depth of thoracic kyphosis, angle of lumbar lordosis, depth of lumbar lordosis were smaller in patients with hip arthrosis. Pelvic asymmetry in coronal plane was bigger in patients with hip arthrosis. CONCLUSION: Body posture in patients with unilateral osteoarthritis characterizes a decrease of lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis while the whole body tilt forward. The asymmetry of the pelvis and trunk settings should be taken be taken into account during physical therapy of patients with coxarthrosis also during the post-operative postural re-education process.

The effect of spinal curvature on the photogrammetric assessment on static balance in elderly women.

BACKGROUND: Involutional changes to the body in elderly patients affect the shape of the spine and the activity of postural muscles. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of age-related changes in spinal curvature on postural balance in elderly women. METHODS: The study population consisted of 90 women, with a mean age of 70 ± 8.01 years. Static balance assessments were conducted on a tensometric platform, and posturographic assessments of body posture were performed using a photogrammetric method based on the Projection Moiré method. RESULTS: The results obtained were analysed using the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient test. We found a statistically significant correlation between body posture and the quality of the balance system response based on the corrective function of the visual system. The shape of the spinal curvature influenced postural stability, as measured by static posturography. Improvement in the quality of the balance system response depended on corrective information from the visual system and proprioceptive information from the paraspinal muscles. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of the balance system to the change of centre of pressure location was influenced by the direction of the change in rotation of the shoulder girdle and spine. Development of spinal curvature in the sagittal plane and maintenance of symmetry in the coronal and transverse planes are essential for correct balance control, which in turn is essential for the development of a properly proportioned locomotor system.

Postural stability disorders in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip.

The osteoarthritis of the hip dominant symptom is pain that leads to disability and to postural and gait disorders. The aim of this study was to analyze postural stability and its impact on disability and pain. The study population consisted of 60 patients and control group of 30. Group 1 (n=30) included patients with unilateral coxarthrosis, aged 56.2 (±12.3) years, BMI 25.17 (±2.87) kg/m2. There were 16 men (53.3%). The mean age of patients in group 2 (n=30) with bilateral coxarthrosis was 62.3 (±12.1) years; the mean BMI was 24.87 (±2.06) kg/m2. There were 15 men in this group (50%). The patients were evaluated using the WOMAC, the Harris Hip Score, VAS and the Biodex Balance System. Both study groups had stability index results different than the control group. There was a significant correlation between the stability indexes and BMI. VAS correlated with the M-L plane variance. In group 2, there were significant differences related to disability for the disability scales for all measured parameters. Balance disorder is a basic parameter found in coxathrosis. There is a statistically significant correlation between balance disorders and BMI, VAS and functional scales.

Postural stability disorders in rural patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

INTRODUCTION: Hard work in farming may lead to lumbar spinal stenosis, and consequently, to pain. The pain and neurological disorders may lead to disability and postural disorders. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the presented study was to analyse postural stability and its correlation with functional disability of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis living in rural areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 30 rural patients with lumbar spinal stenosis; mean age: 51.40 (±12.92); mean BMI: 28.60 (±3.77). The control group consisted of 30 rural inhabitants without spinal disorders. Postural stability was tested on the Biodex Balance System. The patients were also evaluated according to the ODI, the Rolland- Morris disability questionnaire, and VAS. RESULTS: The mean results of the patients studied were as follows: 49.37 (±17.39) according to ODI, 15 (±6.19) according to the Rolland-Morris disability scale, and pain intensity of 7 (±1.93) according to the VAS. The following statistically significant differences were found: the mean balance index result was 1.8 (±1.88) and 0.64 (±0.41) in the control group. The mean centre of mass deviation in the A/P plane was 1.39 (±1.88) and 0.46 (±0.41) in the control group. The mean centre of mass deviation in the M/L plane was 0.8 (±0.51) and 0.32 (±0.22) in the control group. The balance in the studied population correlated significantly with the Rolland-Morris disability questionnaire and the VAS. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Serious disability was found in rural patients with spinal stenosis. There was a statistically significant correlation between the disability and postural stability disorders. 2) Most of the patients (84%) were overweight. 3) Postural stability disorders were statistically significant for both the stability index and the A/P plane deviation.