LUMBAR-HIP FLEXION MOTION - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY BETWEEN ASYMPTOMATIC AND CHRONIC LOW-BACK-PAIN IN 18-YEAR-OLD TO 36-YEAR-OLD MEN

Study Design. The amount of lumbar and hip flexion and the relative co ntribution within movement during standing forward bending was recorde d on a group of asymptomatic men and a group of men with a history of chronic low back pain. Objectives. To compare the relative contributio n of the hip and lumbar spine to forward bending in the two groups. Su mmary of Background Data. The hips and lumbar spine both contribute to the forward bending motion, and an aberrant pattern of contribution i n one or both regions could be related to the presence of chronic low back pain. Methods. Thirty-two white men aged 18-36 years (15 with chr onic low back pain and 17 asymptomatic) were assessed using a three-di mensional motion analysis system that allowed uninterrupted forward be nding. Results. The men with chronic low back pain demonstrated a sign ificant reduction in the mean total range and mean maximum lumbar flex ion relative to the asymptomatic group. Mean hip flexion was not signi ficantly different. Data analysis from 120 degrees of gross flexion re vealed a subgroup of men with chronic low back pain with a significant decrease in hip flexion. Conclusions. When assessing the relative mot ion of the lumbar spine and hips in standing forward flexion, there wa s a measurable difference between asymptomatic men and a group of chro nic low back pain patients. In particular, two subgroups of individual s with chronic low back pain appeared; one moved relatively similarly to the asymptomatic group, whereas the other subgroup demonstrated red uced hip mobility. These findings indicate the importance of assessing the lumbar and hip flexion motion in chronic low back pain patients t o determine if a movement abnormality is present.