Comparison of affected lumbar proprioception due to different injuries with healthy controls: An observational study

Background

There is limited evidence about spinal proprioception deficiency due to different injuries.

Objective

To compare spinal proprioception in patients with Lumbal Spinal Stenosis (LSS) and healthy controls. Secondary objective is to investigate the effect of pain intensity and Thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) flexibility on spinal proprioception deficiency.

Design

Cross-sectional and healthy controlled study.

Setting

This study was conducted in a state hospital.

Methods

Ninety participants (mean age: 46.98 ± 12.94 years) were grouped as: Healthy control (n = 30) (Group I), chronic low back pain due to LSS (n = 30) (Group II) and undergoing surgery due to LSS (n = 30) (Group III). Lumbar repositioning error (RE) was defined as reproducing a target position (neutral lumbo-pelvic posture) after tasks. Tasks were: 30° forward bending and 15° backward bending in sitting and standing.

Primary outcome measures

RE, pain intensity and TLF flexibility were assesed with iphone tilt-meter app, VAS and goniometric platform, respectively.

Participants

Sixty patients with LSS and 30 healthy controls.

Results

RE scores of Group II and Group III were significantly higher than Group I (p < 0.001). Group III had lower VAS scores (p < 0.001) than Group II, except during standing with backward bending task. TLF flexibility was not differed between Group II and Group III (p˃0.05). There was no significant association between VAS and RE scores in Group II and Group III (p˃0.05).

Conclussion

Individuals with LSS and healthy controls have different lumbar proprioception sense. TLF flexibility did not differ, due to different injury, in patients with LSS compared to healthy controls.