Assessment of Hip Range of Motion Limitations in Cases with Low Back Pain Based on the Classified Movement System Impairment.

Background: The hip joint's limitation causes lumbopelvic compensatory motions, accumulating tissue stress on the lumbar spines. It is essential and valuable to evaluate hip rotation range of motion (ROM) in different low back pain (LBP) classifications to understand them and plan the best exercise program. This study aimed to compare hip rotation ROM between subjects with and without LBP classified in movement system impairment (MSI).

Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 subjects with LBP were classified into different MSI subgroups (mean age of 41.66 ± 7.82 years), and 100 healthy subjects (mean age of 38.96 ± 8.84 years) participated. Passive and active hip medial and lateral rotations ROM in prone and supine positions for dominant and non-dominant lower limbs were measured.

Results: Generally, in the LBP group, minimal lateral rotation as compared to controls in movement tests measuring hip rotation ROM actively and passively, in prone and sitting positions, and for dominant and non-dominant limbs (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences among the LBP subgroups (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: Due to LBP, regardless of the MSI categories, remarkably restricted hip lateral rotation ROM.