CORRELATION AND REGRESSION AMONG PAIN, PHYSICAL STRENGTH, FUNCTIONAL ABILITY, QUALITY OF LIFE AND SEXUAL FREQUENCY IN LOW BACK PAIN

Abstract

Purpose: The present study was undertaken to find out the relationship among outcome variables as well as association between dependent variables with physical characteristics in low back pain (LBP) patients. Correlations between outcome variables [pain, back pressure changes (BPC), abdominal pressure changes (APC), walking, stairs climbing, stand ups, quality of life (QOL) and sexual frequency] of all LBP subjects before and after treatment were assessed. Regression analysis was used to estimate baseline BPC and APC of LBP subjects from their baseline demographic characteristics (age, height, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and pulse rate) and severity of pain. Methods: A total of 141 nonspecific chronic LBP patients were recruited. After baseline recording, all subjects were given trunk stabilization training for 20 regular days. After training, the follow-up was done at a gap of each 15 days up to 6 months (180 days). At the last follow-up session (180th day), the outcome variables were recorded again. Findings: The present study found an inverse relation between pain and muscle functions (BPC: r = -0.36; p < 0.01 and APC: r = -0.26; p < 0.01). This study also showed that BPC was more inversely related with the pain than APC. Conclusions: This study concludes that physical strength (BPC and APC) of LBP subjects is more closely associated with the pain than the functional ability (walking, stairs climbing and stand ups). This study also estimated (baseline or before treatment) BPC and APC in LBP subjects from their physical characteristics and pain severity.