Non Specific Chronic Low Back Pain (NSCLBP)

It has been proposed that a large subgroup of patients with Non Specific Chronic Low Back Pain (NSCLBP) presents with a primary deficit in motor control and proprioception, which contributes to their ongoing NSCLBP disorder. Furthermore, when NSCLBP patients are analyzed and compared to pain-free participants, differences in parameters including posture and muscle activation are apparent. Repositioning Error (RE) is a way of measuring trunk kinematics and involves participants trying to reproduce a target body position, which may be a more appropriate measure of lumbopelvic proprioception. Increased RE may reflect altered sensory input or motor output, impaired central nervous system (CNS) processing, or be related to levels of pain, fear, motivation, or concentration. 

This study measured RE in 15 patients with NSCLBP and 15 pain free participants. Lumbo-pelvic RE, pain, functional disability, fear-avoidance and kinesiophobia were evaluated. Participants were asked to reproduce a target position (neutral lumbo-pelvic posture) after 5 s of slump sitting. RE was compared in each group. 

The results showed increased lumbo-pelvic RE in NSCLBP patients, who were undershooting the target position. Overall, RE was only weakly to moderately correlated with measures of pain, disability or fear. The deficits observed are consistent with findings of altered motor control in patients with NSCLBP. > From: O'Sullivan et al., Man Ther 18 (2013) 526-532. All rights reserved to Elsevier Ltd.