Comparison of posteroanterior spinal stiffness measures to clinical and demographic findings at baseline in patients enrolled in a clinical study of spinal manipulation for low back pain

Edward F Owens Jr; James W DeVocht; M Ram Gudavalli; David G Wilder; William C Meeker

doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2007.07.009

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Comparison of posteroanterior spinal stiffness measures to clinical and demographic findings at baseline in patients enrolled in a clinical study of spinal manipulation for low back pain

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Comparison of posteroanterior spinal stiffness measures to clinical and demographic findings at baseline in patients enrolled in a clinical study of spinal manipulation for low back pain

Edward F Owens Jr, James W DeVocht, M Ram Gudavalli, David G Wilder and William C Meeker

Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, Vol.30(7), pp.493-500

09/2007

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2007.07.009

PMCID: PMC4283825

PMID: 17870417

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Abstract

A system for measuring posterior-to-anterior spinal stiffness (PAS) was developed for use in clinical trials of manipulation for low back pain (LBP). The current report is an analysis of the baseline PAS data, with particular emphasis on relationships between PAS and clinical and demographic characteristics. Posterior-to-anterior spinal stiffness measurements were recorded over the spinous processes of the lumbar spines from patients who had LBP. The system uses electronic sensors to record displacement and force, whereas a human operator provides the force of indentation. Clinical and outcome measures were compared with spinal stiffness. We recruited 192 patients (89 female and 103 male; average age, 40.0 years; SD, 9.4 years). The average Roland-Morris score was 9.7 (SD, 3.2) on a 24-point scale. The Visual Analog Scale pain scores were 55.7 (SD, 20.9) on a 100-mm scale. Stiffness values ranged from 4.16 to 39.68 N/mm (mean, 10.80 N/mm; SD, 3.72 N/mm). Females' lumbar spines were, on the average, 2 N/mm more compliant than males (P < .001). The PAS system of computer-monitored equipment with human operation performed well in this clinical study of LBP. Spinal stiffness was found to be different between males and females, and age and body mass index were related to PAS. We found no significant relationship between the severity or chronicity of the LBP complaint and spinal stiffness. There was little agreement between the stiff or tender segments identified by the clinicians using palpation and the segment that measured most stiff using the PAS device.

Palpation

Humans

Male

Manipulation, Spinal - instrumentation

Low Back Pain - therapy

Low Back Pain - diagnosis

Pain Measurement - methods

Low Back Pain - physiopathology

Sex Factors

Adult

Female

Chronic Disease

Lumbar Vertebrae - physiopathology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Comparison of posteroanterior spinal stiffness measures to clinical and demographic findings at baseline in patients enrolled in a clinical study of spinal manipulation for low back pain
Creators: Edward F Owens Jr - Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, Davenport, Iowa 52803, USA. edward.owens@palmer.edu
James W DeVocht
M Ram Gudavalli
David G Wilder
William C Meeker
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, Vol.30(7), pp.493-500
Publisher: United States
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2007.07.009
PMID: 17870417
PMCID: PMC4283825
ISSN: 0161-4754
eISSN: 1532-6586
Grant note: C06 RR015433 / NCRR NIH HHS U19 AT002006-010003 / NCCIH NIH HHS U19 AT002006 / NCCIH NIH HHS C06 RR15433-01 / NCRR NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 09/2007
Academic Unit: Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health
Record Identifier: 9984064573702771

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