Physical capacity in community-dwelling elderly with and without acute low back pain. BACE Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare physical capacity in elderly with and without acute low back pain (LBP). The Back Complaints in the Elders (BACE) consortium is a prospective study conducted in Brazil, Australia, and Netherlands. This subsample consists of elderly BACE Brazil study volunteers. This is an observational, cross-sectional, and comparative study with older adults aged ≥ 65 years who had a new episode (an agudization of symptoms) of LBP. Physical capacity was assessed using the Timed Up and Go test, Sit to Stand test, and normal Walking Speed test. Continuous variables were compared using a nonparametric Mann Whitney U test. A chi squared test was used for categorical variables. Significance level of α = 5%. The study included 104 elderly with mean age of 72.3 ± 4.2 years, classified into two groups: 52 elderly with LBP (GI) and 52 elderly without LBP (GII). The GI group showed worse performance in the Timed Up and Go (p = 0.000), Sit to Stand (p = 0.000) and normal Walking Speed (p = 0.002) tests than the GII group. Finally, the results of this study show the negative impact of LBP exacerbation on physical capacity in the elderly. Thus, it is important that health professionals involved in elderly care are attentive in the assessment and interpretation of clinical conditions regarding LBP to prevent negative impacts on physical function.