Relationships between muscular impairments, pain, and disability in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain: A cross sectional study

Abstract

To clarify the significance of mechanical impairments, pain, and func-tional limitations as predictors of chronic low back pain (LBP). Ninety patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP) were pro-spectively studied with clinical tests and questionnaires. Changes in muscle extensibility and endurance tests were evaluated and changes assessed in LBP intensity on numeric rating scale 0-10 and severity with Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) 0-100. In the present study we found significant associations between the 4 muscle extensibility and 2 endurance tests and pain at nonspecific patients with chronic LBP (P < 0.005). The 2 muscle extensibility and 1 endurance tests were in complete equilibrium with ODI disability and hence showed similar re-sults (P < 0.005). The associations between the muscle extensibility and endurance tests and pain were significantly elevated in patients with nonspecific chronic LBP.