Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1) in patients with chronic low back pain

Abstract

Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint for people of all age and is a major health and socioeconomic problem. In chronic low back pain [cLBP], there will be weakness of trunk and abdominal muscles. These muscles play a vital role in optimizing the lung volumes and pressures as well as in maintaining the airflow. Thus cLBP patients may also have poor respiratory function. The purpose of this study is to find the alteration of pulmonary function especially the FEV1 in patients with cLBP and the factors responsible for it. 100 patients with cLBP fulfilling the selection criteria’s were recruited. Age, gender, weight, height and duration of the symptom is recorded for demographic values. Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second was measured by Spirometer [Welch Allyn – Schiller (SP-1)]. Average of 3 repetitions is documented for analysis. Correlation coefficient with r=0.82 [P<0.01] shows a positive correlation between the patient value and expected value. In this study, the ‘t’ value of 65.0114 [P< 0.0001] shows that there is a statistically significant reduction in FEV1 among the chronic LBP adult patients when compared with their expected value. Chronic low back pain patients have reduced respiratory function [FEV1]. Core muscle dysfunction along with the pain and kinesiophobia associated with cLBP are the factors responsible for this pulmonary dysfunction. Key words: chronic low back pain, FEV1, lung volumes, pulmonary function, spirometry.