Increases in trunk velocity during lifting are associated with improvements in disability and self-efficacy in people with chronic low back pain during cognitive functional therapy: a longitudinal analysis of the RESTORE trial

Ivan Pui Hung Au; Anne Smith; Peter O’Sullivan; Leo Ng; Nic Saraceni; Lesa Hoffman; Amity Campbell

doi:10.1136/oemed-2025-110200

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Increases in trunk velocity during lifting are associated with improvements in disability and self-efficacy in people with chronic low back pain during cognitive functional therapy: a longitudinal analysis of the RESTORE trial

Ivan Pui Hung Au, Anne Smith, Peter O’Sullivan, Leo Ng, Nic Saraceni, Lesa Hoffman and Amity Campbell

Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England), Vol.82(5), pp.245-252

05/2025

DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2025-110200

PMID: 40628500

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Abstract

Objectives Lifting is a common self-reported aggravating factor associated with individuals experiencing low back pain (LBP). However, there is a paucity of longitudinal studies with multiple measures on lifting spinal kinematics, pain, disability and pain-related cognitions. This study investigated the relationship between changes in these factors in people with lifting-related chronic LBP undergoing cognitive functional therapy (CFT). Methods 141 people with chronic LBP aggravated by lifting received a course of CFT over 13 weeks (average 4.8 sessions) and performed the same lifting task before each treatment session. Measures included range of motion (ROM) and velocity from trunk and pelvis inertial measurement units independently and the relative angle between units (lumbar angle). Participants reported (1) average pain intensity, (2) pain-related disability and (3) pain-related cognitions (pain catastrophising and pain self-efficacy) via online questionnaires at baseline, 3, 6 and 13 weeks. Multivariate multilevel models evaluated associations between individual rates of changes over time for three selected kinematic measures (trunk velocity, trunk ROM or lumbar ROM) with pain, disability, pain catastrophising and pain self-efficacy. Results Increased trunk velocity showed potentially large correlations with reduced disability (r=−0.60, 95% CI: −0.90, 0.09) and improved pain self-efficacy (r=0.64, 95% CI: −0.17, 0.93) over time, although there was statistical uncertainty for these estimates. Conclusions In people with lifting-related LBP undergoing CFT, increased trunk velocity during lifting showed potentially large correlations with reductions in disability and improvements in pain self-efficacy. These findings highlight the potential clinical importance of trunk velocity as both a monitoring measure and treatment target.

Musculoskeletal System

Occupational Health

Back Pain

Practice

Rehabilitation

Details

Title: Subtitle: Increases in trunk velocity during lifting are associated with improvements in disability and self-efficacy in people with chronic low back pain during cognitive functional therapy: a longitudinal analysis of the RESTORE trial
Creators: Ivan Pui Hung Au - Curtin University
Anne Smith - Curtin University
Peter O’Sullivan - Curtin University
Leo Ng - Curtin University
Nic Saraceni - Curtin University
Lesa Hoffman - University of Iowa
Amity Campbell - Curtin University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England), Vol.82(5), pp.245-252
DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2025-110200
PMID: 40628500
NLM abbreviation: Occup Environ Med
ISSN: 1351-0711
eISSN: 1470-7926
Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
Grant note: APP1145271 / National Health and Medical Research Council (http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000925)
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 07/08/2025
Date published: 05/2025
Academic Unit: Psychological and Quantitative Foundations
Record Identifier: 9984845649602771

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