Predictors of pain intensity and Oswestry Disability Index in prolonged standing service workers with nonspecific chronic low back pain subclassified as active extension pattern

Background: Because patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) are heterogeneous, subgrouping patients with NSCLBP might clarify the research findings. NSCLBP in the direction of extension movement, namely active extension pattern (AEP), is common during prolonged standing.

Objective: Predictors of pain intensity and dysfunction were determined in prolonged standing service workers (PSSWs) with NSCLBP subclassified as AEP in the motor impairment subgroup.

Methods: Variables were measured using questionnaires including a visual analog scale (VAS), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Scale, and Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS). Postural assessment was performed by measuring pelvic anterior tilting angle (PATA). The smart KEMA measurement system was used to evaluate hip flexion, hip extension (HE), and knee flexion range of motion (ROM), as well as hip extensor strength, hip abductor strength (HArS), hip external rotator strength (HERrS), hip internal rotator strength, knee extensor strength, and knee flexor strength, and lumbopelvic stability (LS) in 78 PSSWs with NSCLBP subclassified as AEP.

Results: In prediction models, HArS, LS, PATA, KOSS and HE ROM accounted for 40.1% of the variance in the VAS (p < 0.05); predictors of dysfunction included the HERrS and age, which accounted for 11.9% of the variance in the ODI (p < 0.05) in multiple regression models when using a stepwise selection procedure.

Conclusions: The present results indicate that HArS and HERrS, LS, PATA, KOSS, HE ROM and age should be considered for evaluating and predicting NSCLBP subclassified as AEP in PSSWs, and when designing interventions.