Altered muscle strength and flexibility among a subgroup of women with chronic nonspecific low back pain: Cross-sectional case-control study

Sima Vatandoost, Rahman Sheikhhoseini, Behnam Akhbari, Mahyar Salavati, Mohammadreza Pourahmadi, Maryam Farhang, Kieran O’Sullivan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To compare muscle strength and flexibility among a subgroup of women with extension-related chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNLBP) with healthy controls. Methods: In this case-control study, 32 subjects with and without extension-related CNLBP were tested (n = 16 in each group). Gluteal, abdominal, paravertebral, and hamstring strength, along with hip flexor flexibility and hamstring flexibility were compared between groups. Data were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney test (p < .007). Results: The CNLBP subgroup displayed significantly lower strength of all muscles analyzed (p < .007), with the exception of gluteus medius. The flexibility of the hip flexors and hamstrings were not significantly reduced among the women with CNLBP (p > .007). Discussion: The present study showed that alterations in muscle strength, but not flexibility, partly consistent with those previously hypothesized but not objectively reported, were present among a subgroup of women with extension-related CNLBP. These results may have implications for the selection of therapeutic exercises among this subgroup of people with CNLBP.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1428-1436
Number of pages9
JournalPhysiotherapy Theory and Practice
Volume39
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords

  • classification
  • dynamometer
  • Low back pain
  • muscle strength
  • range of motion

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