Chronic low back pain is associated with a reduction in lumbar movement – a prospective cohort study
Abstract Recent research has increasingly highlighted the role of movement behavior in the onset and persistence of low back pain (LBP). However, little is known about the lumbar spine’s movement patterns in daily life. This study investigated the number of lumbar movements in asymptomatic individua...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| author | Friederike Schömig Matthias Pumberger Luis Becker Sandra Reitmaier Maxim Bashkuev Georg N. Duda Hendrik Schmidt |
| author_facet | Friederike Schömig Matthias Pumberger Luis Becker Sandra Reitmaier Maxim Bashkuev Georg N. Duda Hendrik Schmidt |
| author_sort | Friederike Schömig |
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| description | Abstract Recent research has increasingly highlighted the role of movement behavior in the onset and persistence of low back pain (LBP). However, little is known about the lumbar spine’s movement patterns in daily life. This study investigated the number of lumbar movements in asymptomatic individuals and those with chronic LBP (lasting ≥ 12 weeks) over a 24-hour period. Lumbar movements were measured with the Epionics SPINE system. Movements ≥ 5° were grouped into movement sizes of > 15°, 10–15°, and 5–10°. Data were analyzed using the Student’s t-test, two-way analysis of variance, or the Pearson’s correlation coefficient. This study included 208 asymptomatic participants and 106 LBP participants. Participants with LBP exhibited a significantly lower number of both flexion/extension (15,564 ± 8,078 vs. 20,521 ± 7,160, p < 0.001) and rotation movements (4,724 ± 3,995 vs. 7,368 ± 4,223, p < 0.001). Females showed significantly more flexion/extension movements > 15° compared to males. Participants were significantly older than asymptomatic participants (40.3 ± 14.0 vs. 50.9 ± 13.9 years, p < 0.001). The correlation between age and the number of flexion/extension movements was weak in both the LBP (r=-0.290, p = 0.003) and the asymptomatic (r=-0.179, p = 0.010) groups. In summary, individuals with chronic LBP exhibit fewer lumbar spine movements than their asymptomatic counterparts, and distinct sex differences in movement patterns were observed, with females showing a different movement profile compared to males. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-d0217f931fa74c2796756df5f085f8492025-08-20T03:10:35ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-011511910.1038/s41598-025-04851-2Chronic low back pain is associated with a reduction in lumbar movement – a prospective cohort studyFriederike Schömig0Matthias Pumberger1Luis Becker2Sandra Reitmaier3Maxim Bashkuev4Georg N. Duda5Hendrik Schmidt6Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinJulius Wolff Institute, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinJulius Wolff Institute, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinJulius Wolff Institute, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinJulius Wolff Institute, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinAbstract Recent research has increasingly highlighted the role of movement behavior in the onset and persistence of low back pain (LBP). However, little is known about the lumbar spine’s movement patterns in daily life. This study investigated the number of lumbar movements in asymptomatic individuals and those with chronic LBP (lasting ≥ 12 weeks) over a 24-hour period. Lumbar movements were measured with the Epionics SPINE system. Movements ≥ 5° were grouped into movement sizes of > 15°, 10–15°, and 5–10°. Data were analyzed using the Student’s t-test, two-way analysis of variance, or the Pearson’s correlation coefficient. This study included 208 asymptomatic participants and 106 LBP participants. Participants with LBP exhibited a significantly lower number of both flexion/extension (15,564 ± 8,078 vs. 20,521 ± 7,160, p < 0.001) and rotation movements (4,724 ± 3,995 vs. 7,368 ± 4,223, p < 0.001). Females showed significantly more flexion/extension movements > 15° compared to males. Participants were significantly older than asymptomatic participants (40.3 ± 14.0 vs. 50.9 ± 13.9 years, p < 0.001). The correlation between age and the number of flexion/extension movements was weak in both the LBP (r=-0.290, p = 0.003) and the asymptomatic (r=-0.179, p = 0.010) groups. In summary, individuals with chronic LBP exhibit fewer lumbar spine movements than their asymptomatic counterparts, and distinct sex differences in movement patterns were observed, with females showing a different movement profile compared to males.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04851-2Low back painMovementPhysiotherapyConservative treatmentChronicLumbar spine |
| spellingShingle | Friederike Schömig Matthias Pumberger Luis Becker Sandra Reitmaier Maxim Bashkuev Georg N. Duda Hendrik Schmidt Chronic low back pain is associated with a reduction in lumbar movement – a prospective cohort study Scientific Reports Low back pain Movement Physiotherapy Conservative treatment Chronic Lumbar spine |
| title | Chronic low back pain is associated with a reduction in lumbar movement – a prospective cohort study |
| title_full | Chronic low back pain is associated with a reduction in lumbar movement – a prospective cohort study |
| title_fullStr | Chronic low back pain is associated with a reduction in lumbar movement – a prospective cohort study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chronic low back pain is associated with a reduction in lumbar movement – a prospective cohort study |
| title_short | Chronic low back pain is associated with a reduction in lumbar movement – a prospective cohort study |
| title_sort | chronic low back pain is associated with a reduction in lumbar movement a prospective cohort study |
| topic | Low back pain Movement Physiotherapy Conservative treatment Chronic Lumbar spine |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04851-2 |
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