Association between Rotation-Related Impairments and Activity Type in People with and Without Low Back Pain

Objective To determine whether people with low back pain (LBP) who regularly participated in a rotation-related activity displayed more rotation-related impairments than people without LBP who did and did not participate in the activity. Design Secondary analysis of data from a case-control study. Setting Musculoskeletal analysis laboratory at an academic medical center. Participants A convenience sample of participants with LBP (n=55) who participated in a rotation-related sport, back-healthy controls (n=26) who participated in a rotation-related sport, and back-healthy controls (n=42) who did not participate in a rotation-related sport. Participants were matched based on age, sex, and activity level. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures The total number of rotation-related impairments and asymmetrical rotation-related impairments identified during a standardized clinical examination. Results Compared with the back-healthy controls who do not play a rotation-related sport group, both the LBP and back-healthy controls who play a rotation-related sport groups displayed significantly more (1) rotation-related impairments (LBP, P<.001; back-healthy controls who play a rotation-related sport, P=.015), (2) asymmetrical rotation-related impairments (LBP, P=.006; back-healthy controls who play a rotation-related sport, P=.020), and (3) rotation-related impairments with trunk movement tests (LBP, P=.002; back-healthy controls who play a rotation-related sport, P<.001). The LBP group had significantly more rotation-related impairments with extremity movement tests than both of the back-healthy groups (back-healthy controls who play a rotation-related sport, P=.011; back-healthy controls who do not play a rotation-related sport, P<.001). Conclusions The LBP and back-healthy controls who play a rotation-related sport groups demonstrated a similar number of total rotation-related impairments and asymmetrical rotation-related impairments, and these numbers were greater than those of the back-healthy controls who do not play a rotation-related sport group. Compared with people without LBP, people with LBP displayed more rotation-related impairments when moving an extremity. These findings suggest that impairments associated with extremity movements may be associated with having an LBP condition.