Lumbar repositioning in chronic low back pain and healthy females

Proprioception is a main component of somatosensory system that plays a protective role in acute injuries through reflex muscular splinting. Proprioception reduction could be a source of deficits in reaction time, postural control and postural stability. In chronic low back pain patients (CLBP) the proprioception is decreased and leads to dysfunction in motor control and increased the risk of injury. Evaluation the repositioning of lumbar region could be an indication to measure the lumbar proprioception. The purpose of this study was to compare the lumbar repositioning in CLBP and healthy females.

Eighteen CLBP (22.83 ± 2.93 years) and 18 healthy females (23.33 ± 2.19 years) participated in this study. Lumbar repositioning error in 30% and 60% of lumbar full flexion and neutral position with closed eye in standing was evaluated with electrogoniometer. Absolute and constant error for 3 repositioning points were obtained and analyzed.

Absolute error in patients with low back pain was significantly higher than control subjects in all 3 position points (P<0.05). Constant error did not show significant difference between two groups. (P>0.05)

Increased in absolute error of females with CLBP in lumbar repositioning implies that some aspects of proprioception may lose in patients with CLBP.