IngentaConnect Fast Track Article: Obesity and recovery from low bac...x on recovery from low back pain

Authors: JITENDRA MANGWANI, CLAIRE GILES, MARK MULLINS, TUNCAR SALIH, COLIN NATALI

Abstract:

INTRODUCTION We describe a prospective cohort study to investigate any association between recovery from low back pain andbody mass index (BMI) in patients with low back pain undergoing physiotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 140 patients with low back pain and no evidence of neurological deficit were divided intothree groups based on their BMI. All patients underwent a back-specific physiotherapy programme for 6 or 12 weeks. Recoveryparameters such as pain intensity (visual analogue scale scores) and physical impairment index scores were measured. Therange of motion of the lumber spine was also recorded. These variables were compared pre- and post-treatment.

RESULTS Mean age of the patients was 38 years (range, 18-67 years) with 62% males and 38% females. The treatmentresulted in significant improvements in all the recovery parameters (P < 0.005, paired t-test). No significant association wasdetected between the BMI of subjects and percentage changes in pain intensity, physical impairment index, and range ofmotion of the lumbar spine. A comparative analysis of the after treatment recovery parameter scores in normal (BMI ≤ 24.9kg/m2), overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) patients revealed no significant differences in the meanpain intensity and mean self-experienced impairment and disability scores amongst the groups.

CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that BMI does not influence the overall recovery from low back pain in patients undergoingphysiotherapy treatment.

Obesity and recovery from low back pain: a prospective study to investigate the effect of body mass index on recovery from low back pain