Balance Recovery Reactions in Recurrent Non-specific Low Back Pain Patients

Objectives: Altered movement strategy and postural control has been observed in Low Back Pain (LBP) patients. Objective of this study was to determine postural response following support surface translation, also correlations between postural response related measures and disability caused by LBP. Methods: 20 healthy subjects and 20 patients with recurrent non specific LBP participated in this study. They were instructed to stand on a moveable platform with each foot placed on a separate force plate. Platform was translated backward. Center of pressure (CoP) displacement data was derived and used for calculation of postural parameters. Reaction time, Latency, mean initial Velocity and peak displacement were used as measures of postural stability. Disability was assessed by the Oswestry Disability index (ODI) and Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ). Correlation between balance and disability measures were assesed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: Subjects with LBP had delayed reaction time, prolonged Latency and slower velocity compared to healthy subjects. Also, correlation between CoP measurments and physical function were poor. Discussion: This study reveald altered postural response against purturbation in patients with LBP and no association between CoP measures and disability.