Impact of poor prognostic risk for chronic low back pain on functionality and lumbopelvic stability: a cross-sectional observational study

Abstract

Internal load to deal with physical exercise demand depends on the psychophysical capacity. As psychosocial aspects affect patients suffering chronic low back pain (CLBP), we hypothesized that the higher the risk of poor prognosis, the lower the psychophysical capacity and, consequently, the worse the performance in functional tasks that involve walking. To verify the impact of the risk of poor prognosis of patients with CLBP on functional performance and physiological intensity (PI), representative of the task internal load, in a walking test and on lumbopelvic region static and dynamic stability. Cross-sectional observational study. Volunteers of both sexes, physically inactive, were divided into four groups according to the Start Back Screening Tool: control (CG) CLBP free, and low (LrG), medium (MrG), high (HrG) poor prognostic risk. The outcomes were static stability, with emphasis on the action of the transverse and multifidus muscles, and dynamic stability of the lumbopelvic region, both measured by a biofeedback pressure unit, as well as functional capacity, and physiological intensity in the 6-minute walk test. The GEE and complementary metrics (minimum detectable change and effect size) were used for statistical analysis. The sample consisted of 70 volunteers. The outcomes were proportionally affected by the risk of poor prognosis (the higher the risk, the worst performance) and the complementary metrics corroborated inferential statistics. The risk of poor prognosis negatively and proportionally impacts both the static and dynamic lumbopelvic stabilization capacity and the performance and the PI in walking of individuals with CLBP.