Abstract
Maintaining body balance is a complex function based on the information deriving from the vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive systems. The aim of the study was to evaluate quiet single stance stability in young adults with lumbar derangement syndrome (LDS) and in the control group of the healthy subjects. The second aim of this study was to determine whether pain intensity, degree of disability, and the level of physical activity can influence postural control in patients with LDS. It is important to underline that selecting a homogeneous group of LBP patients using, for example, mechanical diagnosis and therapy method and Quebec Task Force Classification, can result in an increased sensitivity of the study. The study included 126 subjects: 70 patients with LDS (37 women, 33 men) and the control group 56 healthy volunteers (36 women, 20 men). In case of multiple group comparisons for variables with normal distribution, ANOVA post hoc test was used or, as the nonparametric equivalent, Kruskal-Wallis test. In all these calculations, the statistical significance level was set to p < 0.05. The stability index eyes open for the study group was 88.34 and for the control group 89.86. There was no significant difference in the level of postural control between the study and control groups (p > 0.05). The level of stability index eyes closed (SI EC) for the study group was 71.44 and for the control group 77.1. SI EC results showed significant differences in proprioceptive control during single leg stance between the study and control groups (p < 0.05). The level of pain intensity, the degree of disability, and physical activity level did not influence postural control in the study group with LDS. In summary, patients with LDS showed significantly worse proprioceptive control.
Highlights
Postural control is the ability of regaining body balance in space, lost as a result of destabilising stimuli, such as physical activity or external forces, while the interaction with the surroundings
Patients with low back pain without radiation—41 subjects (58%: number 1 category according to Quebec Task Force Classification (QTFC)) and with radiation to the proximal part of lower limb and 29 subjects (42%: number 2 category according to QTFC)—were qualified for the further examination
The study group consisted of 70 patients with lumbar derangement syndrome (LDS) (37 women, 33 men) aged 18-35, and the control group consisted of 56 healthy volunteers (36 women, 20 men) at the age of 18-35
Summary
Postural control is the ability of regaining body balance in space, lost as a result of destabilising stimuli, such as physical activity or external forces, while the interaction with the surroundings. Postural control is defined as the ability to maintain standing position and to stabilize the centre of gravity of the human body within the base of support [1, 2]. Maintaining postural stability is a complex function involving a variety of neuromuscular processes, which are dependent on sensory input from the vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive systems [3]. Proprioception is a key component of the somatosensory system which, with the speed of 80-120 m/s, by means of muscles, tendons, joints, and fascia receptors, transfers information about body position to the central nervous system (CNS) [4]. The decreased proprioceptive control in patients with LBP influences postural strategy and can cause balance disorders [7, 8], which may be the most serious consequence of LBP [8, 9]. According to Pedersen et al, proprioceptive feedback from muscle spindle afferents is negatively affected by nociceptive afference [10] which may contribute to increased postural inclination
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
