Analysis of the Effect of Wearing Extensible and Non-Extensible Lumbar Belts on Biomechanical Factors of the Sit-to-Stand Movement and Pain-Related Psychological Factors Affecting Office Workers with Low Back Pain.

Sang-Cheol Im,Kyoung Kim,Ho-Young Cho,Jae-Hong Lee

doi:10.3390/healthcare9111601

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of wearing extensible and non-extensible lumbar belt (LB) on biomechanical factors of the sit-to-stand (STD) movement and pain-related psychological factors affecting office workers with low back pain. Among 30 office workers, 15 with low back pain (LBP) were assigned to the experimental group and 15 healthy adults were assigned to the control group. The participants performed STD movement in random order of three different conditions: without LB (Condition 1), with extensible LB (Condition 2), and with non-extensible LB (Condition 3). Biomechanical variables of STD movement in each condition were measured using a three-dimensional motion analysis system and force plate. Pain-related psychological factors were measured only in the experimental group. Among the biomechanical factors of STD movement, an interaction effect was found in the maximum anterior pelvic tilt angle and total-phase range of motion of the trunk (p < 0.05). Pain intensity, pain-related anxiety, and pain catastrophizing were decreased in the conditions with lumbar belts (Conditions 2 and 3) compared to the condition without LB (Condition 1) (p < 0.05). Extensible and non-extensible lumbar belts engender biomechanically beneficial effects during STD movement in both office workers with LBP and healthy office workers. Further, pain intensity, pain-related anxiety, and pain catastrophizing were decreased in office workers with LBP. Therefore, both types of extensible lumbar belts may be helpful in the daily life of patients with LBP and office workers.

Highlights

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common health conditions, which has an enormous socioeconomic impact [1]
Trunk range of motion (ROM) was decreased in Conditions 2 and 3 compared with that in Condition 1 in both experimental and control groups, with no significant difference between the two groups
Trunk ROM was decreased in the experimental group while wearing the lumbar belt (LB), but it is thought that the anterior driving power that accelerates the center of mass (COM) of the body, which is necessary to perform the STD movement, was generated by the increased maximum trunk flexion angle

Summary

Introduction

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common health conditions, which has an enormous socioeconomic impact [1]. Balance and ambulatory abilities of patients with LBP are decreased compared with those of healthy individuals [4], thereby limiting physical function and engendering inabilities resulting from decreased muscle strength, endurance, and coordination [5]. Absence of labor and loss of productivity are common in patients with LBP because of difficulty to work, absence, etc. As a major reason for health care costs, the economic impact of LBP is similar to that of other general high-cost diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, mental health disorders, and autoimmune diseases [7]. LBP results in extensive economic pressure on individuals, families, communities, industries, and governments [8]

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