Lumbar joint position sense measurement of patients with low back pain

Abstract

Lumbar position sense can be assessed by measurement instruments including the goniometer, isokinetic dynamometry, and electronic motion monitoring equipment, which have demonstrated relatively high reliability. This literature provides a comprehensive overview of influencing factors of lumbar position sense measurement, including repositioning method, fatigue degree, and posture during the reposition. It highlights the significant role of muscle proprioception, which contributes to greater accuracy in active reposition compared to passive reposition. The differences in lumbar position sense with different measurement positions may be explained by the presence of mechanoreceptors in the load-bearing structures of the lumbar spine, especially in the facet joint capsules. These mechanoreceptors play a crucial role in providing sensory feedback and proprioceptive information pertaining to the position and movement of the lumbar spine. Individuals with low back pain (LBP) demonstrate alterations in lumbar position sense compared to those without LBP. The auto motor sensory feedback transmission mechanism of patients with non-specific LBP was more unstable than that of healthy people. These findings suggest that lumbar position sense may play a potential role in the development and perpetuation of LBP. At present, the commonly used clinical assessment methods for determining position sense include both active and passive repositioning. However, neither method exhibits high sensitivity and specificity, leading to the poor comparability of relevant studies and posing challenges for clinical application.