Muscle Functions and Functional Performance among Older Persons with and without Low Back Pain

Abstract

This study aims to compare muscle functions and functional performances between older persons with and without low back pain (LBP) and to determine the association between muscle functions and functional performances. This is a cross-sectional study, involving 95 older persons (age =<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M1"><mml:mn fontstyle="italic">70.27</mml:mn><mml:mo>±</mml:mo><mml:mn fontstyle="italic">7.26</mml:mn></mml:math>years). Anthropometric characteristics, muscle functions, and functional performances were measured. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression. The functional performances showed no significant differences (females LBP versus non-LBP, males LBP versus non-LBP) (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M2"><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo>&lt;</mml:mo><mml:mn fontstyle="italic">0.05</mml:mn></mml:math>). For muscle functions, significant differences were found (females LBP versus non-LBP) for abdominal muscle strength (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M3"><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn fontstyle="italic">0.006</mml:mn></mml:math>) and back muscle strength (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M4"><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn fontstyle="italic">0.07</mml:mn></mml:math>). In the LBP group, significant correlations were found between back and abdominal muscle strength and hand grip strength (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M5"><mml:mi>r</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn fontstyle="italic">0.377</mml:mn></mml:math>and<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M6"><mml:mi>r</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn fontstyle="italic">0.396</mml:mn></mml:math>, resp.), multifidus control and lower limb function (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M7"><mml:mi>r</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn fontstyle="italic">0.363</mml:mn></mml:math>) in females, and back muscle strength and lower limb function (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M8"><mml:mi>r</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn fontstyle="italic">0.393</mml:mn></mml:math>) in males (all<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M9"><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo>&lt;</mml:mo><mml:mn fontstyle="italic">0.05</mml:mn></mml:math>). Regression analysis showed that abdominal and back muscle strengths were significant predictors of hand grip strength (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M10"><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn fontstyle="italic">0.041</mml:mn></mml:math>and<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M11"><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn fontstyle="italic">0.049</mml:mn></mml:math>, resp.), and multifidus control was a significant predictor of lower limb function in females (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M12"><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn fontstyle="italic">0.047</mml:mn></mml:math>). This study demonstrates that older women with LBP exhibit poorer muscle functions compared to older women without LBP.