van Wingerden, Jan-Paul; Vleeming, Andry; Ronchetti, Inge
The objective of this study was to determine whether subcategories of back pain patients could be distinguished by motion characteristics of the pelvis and lumbar spine. It compares motion characteristics during forward bending of a group of chronic female patients either with low back pain (LBP) or pelvic girdle pain (PGP) and healthy subjects using computer-video analysis. Specific and discriminating motion characteristics were found between groups. During erect stance in the PGP group, the pelvis is significantly tilted backwards. At maximally forward bending, the ROM of the trunk is limited in all patient groups, but only the PGP group has significantly limited hip motion. During the initial part of forward bending, lumbar motion is increased in PGP patients and decreased in LBP patients. In the final part of forward bending contribution of the lumbar spine is increased in both patient groups.
Low back pain and pelvic girdle pain patients show specific, consistent, and distinct motion patterns. These motion patterns are assumed to be functional compensation strategies, following altered neuromuscular coordination.
Spine, 2008, 33(11), E334-E341