Correlations between joint and spinal mobility, spinal sagittal configuration, segmental mobility, segmental pain, symptoms and disabilities in female homecare personnel

The aim of a study comprising 607 women working as homecare personnel was t o investigate general spinal, joint and segmental mobility, different sympt oms (pain and strain) and their relation to various aspects of disability. Joint mobility (mainly peripheral) was estimated using the "Beighton" score and spinal posture and mobility were measured by kyphometer, Passive segme ntal mobility and pain provocation were estimated manually. Pain intensity and strain during work and leisure were estimated using visual analogue sca les for defined anatomical,regions. Disability was rated using defined item s and two indices. The 7-day prevalence of low back pain was 48%, Periphera l joint mobility, spinal sagittal posture and thoracic sagittal mobility sh owed low correlations with disability. Lumbar sagittal hypomobility was ass ociated with higher disability, Manually estimated segmental mobility and s egmental pain provocation of L4-L5 and L5-S1 correlated with disability; hy po- and hypermobility or positive pain provocation tests at these levels sh owed higher disability than normal mobility and negative pain provocation t ests, respectively, Cluster analysis revealed that the combination of posit ive pain provocation tests and low lumbar sagittal mobility was associated with particularly high disability levels. In conclusion, positive pain prov ocation tests were clearly associated with high disability levels.