Subgroup Characteristics of Middle-Aged and Older Women with Chronic Low Back Pain by Multiple Factors: A Hierarchical Cluster Analysis

Background/Objectives: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) after middle age is a complex multifactorial condition, and subgrouping is recommended to determine effective treatment strategies. Multidimensional data help create new groupings to increase the effectiveness of interventions in middle-aged and ol...

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Main Authors: Ryo Miyachi, Takaaki Nishimura, Masahiro Noguchi, Akio Goda, Hiromichi Takeda, Eisuke Takeshima, Yuji Kanazawa, Tadashi Imai, Wataru Tanaka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/30
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author Ryo Miyachi
Takaaki Nishimura
Masahiro Noguchi
Akio Goda
Hiromichi Takeda
Eisuke Takeshima
Yuji Kanazawa
Tadashi Imai
Wataru Tanaka
author_facet Ryo Miyachi
Takaaki Nishimura
Masahiro Noguchi
Akio Goda
Hiromichi Takeda
Eisuke Takeshima
Yuji Kanazawa
Tadashi Imai
Wataru Tanaka
author_sort Ryo Miyachi
collection DOAJ
description Background/Objectives: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) after middle age is a complex multifactorial condition, and subgrouping is recommended to determine effective treatment strategies. Multidimensional data help create new groupings to increase the effectiveness of interventions in middle-aged and older adults with CLBP. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the factors associated with CLBP after middle age and to create and characterize a new subgroup based on these factors. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted and included 46 women aged ≥40 years with CLBP who participated in health events. Trunk muscle mass, lumbar movement control ability, autonomic balance, lumbar tenderness threshold, lumbar proprioception, and severity of central sensitization were assessed. Results: Partial correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between lumbar movement control ability and autonomic balance. A significant positive correlation was observed between trunk muscle mass and the lumbar tenderness threshold. Hierarchical clustering analysis identified three subgroups. The cluster 1 participants had low trunk muscle mass, low tenderness threshold, and low severity of central sensitization. The cluster 2 participants had low trunk muscle mass and tenderness threshold and high severity of central sensitization. The cluster 3 participants had high trunk muscle mass and tenderness threshold and were sympathetically predominant. Trunk muscle mass, pressure pain threshold, severity of central sensitization, and autonomic balance were significantly different between the clusters. Conclusions: Three characteristic subgroups were identified. The results contribute to treatment and prevention strategies for middle-aged and older adults with CLBP based on the characteristics of the subgroups rather than a uniform approach.
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spelling doaj-art-b8c77a15609c439bbf334352e5bf7cb82025-08-20T01:49:00ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology2411-51422025-01-011013010.3390/jfmk10010030Subgroup Characteristics of Middle-Aged and Older Women with Chronic Low Back Pain by Multiple Factors: A Hierarchical Cluster AnalysisRyo Miyachi0Takaaki Nishimura1Masahiro Noguchi2Akio Goda3Hiromichi Takeda4Eisuke Takeshima5Yuji Kanazawa6Tadashi Imai7Wataru Tanaka8Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Hokuriku University, 1-1 Taiyogaoka, Kanazawa 920-1180, JapanFaculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Hokuriku University, 1-1 Taiyogaoka, Kanazawa 920-1180, JapanFaculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Hokuriku University, 1-1 Taiyogaoka, Kanazawa 920-1180, JapanFaculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Hokuriku University, 1-1 Taiyogaoka, Kanazawa 920-1180, JapanFaculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Hokuriku University, 1-1 Taiyogaoka, Kanazawa 920-1180, JapanFaculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Hokuriku University, 1-1 Taiyogaoka, Kanazawa 920-1180, JapanFaculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Hokuriku University, 1-1 Taiyogaoka, Kanazawa 920-1180, JapanRehabilitation Center, Kanazawa Nishi Hospital, 6-15-41 Ekinishihonmachi, Kanazawa 920-0025, JapanDepartment of Rehabilitation, Komatsu Sophia Hospital, 478 Okimachi, Komatsu 923-0861, JapanBackground/Objectives: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) after middle age is a complex multifactorial condition, and subgrouping is recommended to determine effective treatment strategies. Multidimensional data help create new groupings to increase the effectiveness of interventions in middle-aged and older adults with CLBP. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the factors associated with CLBP after middle age and to create and characterize a new subgroup based on these factors. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted and included 46 women aged ≥40 years with CLBP who participated in health events. Trunk muscle mass, lumbar movement control ability, autonomic balance, lumbar tenderness threshold, lumbar proprioception, and severity of central sensitization were assessed. Results: Partial correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between lumbar movement control ability and autonomic balance. A significant positive correlation was observed between trunk muscle mass and the lumbar tenderness threshold. Hierarchical clustering analysis identified three subgroups. The cluster 1 participants had low trunk muscle mass, low tenderness threshold, and low severity of central sensitization. The cluster 2 participants had low trunk muscle mass and tenderness threshold and high severity of central sensitization. The cluster 3 participants had high trunk muscle mass and tenderness threshold and were sympathetically predominant. Trunk muscle mass, pressure pain threshold, severity of central sensitization, and autonomic balance were significantly different between the clusters. Conclusions: Three characteristic subgroups were identified. The results contribute to treatment and prevention strategies for middle-aged and older adults with CLBP based on the characteristics of the subgroups rather than a uniform approach.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/30muscle massmovement controlautonomic balancetenderness thresholdcentral sensitization
spellingShingle Ryo Miyachi
Takaaki Nishimura
Masahiro Noguchi
Akio Goda
Hiromichi Takeda
Eisuke Takeshima
Yuji Kanazawa
Tadashi Imai
Wataru Tanaka
Subgroup Characteristics of Middle-Aged and Older Women with Chronic Low Back Pain by Multiple Factors: A Hierarchical Cluster Analysis
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
muscle mass
movement control
autonomic balance
tenderness threshold
central sensitization
title Subgroup Characteristics of Middle-Aged and Older Women with Chronic Low Back Pain by Multiple Factors: A Hierarchical Cluster Analysis
title_full Subgroup Characteristics of Middle-Aged and Older Women with Chronic Low Back Pain by Multiple Factors: A Hierarchical Cluster Analysis
title_fullStr Subgroup Characteristics of Middle-Aged and Older Women with Chronic Low Back Pain by Multiple Factors: A Hierarchical Cluster Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Subgroup Characteristics of Middle-Aged and Older Women with Chronic Low Back Pain by Multiple Factors: A Hierarchical Cluster Analysis
title_short Subgroup Characteristics of Middle-Aged and Older Women with Chronic Low Back Pain by Multiple Factors: A Hierarchical Cluster Analysis
title_sort subgroup characteristics of middle aged and older women with chronic low back pain by multiple factors a hierarchical cluster analysis
topic muscle mass
movement control
autonomic balance
tenderness threshold
central sensitization
url https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/30
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