no-LBP Group Research Articles

Identifying Risk Factors for Preexisting or Developing Low Back Pain in Youth, High School, and Collegiate Lacrosse Players Using 3-Dimensional Motion Analysis.

Low back pain (LBP) is a common condition that can affect athletes of all ages. The risk factors for LBP onset and worsening associated with the lacrosse shooting motion are not yet known. To identify training and biomechanical factors associated with preexisting LBP and development of LBP over 6 months in youth, high school, and collegiate lacrosse players. Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. A total of 128 lacrosse players were enrolled in this study between January 2016 and January 2019. Player characteristics, lacrosse experience, and participation in other sports were self-reported. At baseline and 2-, 4-, and 6-month follow-ups, the players self-rated the presence and severity of LBP using a numeric pain rating scale (0-10 points). Participants were grouped according to LBP symptoms: no LBP at any time point (n = 102), preexisting LBP (n = 17), or developed LBP within the 6-month period (n = 9). The lacrosse shooting motion was captured via 3-dimensional motion analysis, and kinematic and kinetic variables were recorded. A Low Back Stress Index was used to estimate lumbar stress as a function of pelvic acceleration at the time of maximum lateral trunk lean during the shot. Univariate analyses of covariance and logistic regression models were used to address study aims. Compared with the no-LBP group, the preexisting LBP group demonstrated 13.9% to 22.9% lower maximum angular velocities at the pelvis, trunk, and shoulders in the transverse plane (P < .05), 19.3% less collective pelvis-shoulder rotation in the transverse plane (P = .015), and 4.5% more knee flexion excursion (P = .063). The developed-LBP group produced 2.3% to 11.1% higher angular velocities in the pelvis, trunk, and shoulder and generated maximum pelvic acceleration values 36% to 42% higher than the remaining groups (P < .05 for both). Mean Low Back Stress Index values were not statistically significant among the groups (no LBP: 12,504 ± 13,076 deg2/s2; preexisting LBP: 8808 ± 10,174 deg2/s2; developed LBP: 19,389 ± 13,590 deg2/s2; P = .157). Preexisting LBP was associated with significantly restricted motion of the pelvis, trunk, and shoulders during a lacrosse shot. Excessive pelvic acceleration may be related to the development of LBP in lacrosse players.

Differences in upper body posture between patients with lumbar spine syndrome and healthy individuals under the consideration of sex, age and BMI

BackgroundWork-related forced postures, such as prolonged standing work, can lead to complaints in the lower back. Current research suggests that there is increased evidence of associations between patients with low back pain (LBP) and reduced lordosis in the lumbar spine and generally less spinal tilt in the sagittal plane. The aim of this study is to extend the influence of LBP to other parameters of upper body posture in standing, taking into account the rotational and frontal planes.MethodsThe study included a no-LBP group (418 males, 412 females, aged 21–65 years) and an LBP group (138 subjects: 80 females, 58 males, aged 18–86 years) with medically diagnosed lumbar spine syndrome (LSS). The “ABW BodyMapper” back scanner from ABW GmbH in Germany was used for posture assessment using video raster stereography. Statistical analyses employed two-sample t-tests or Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney-U tests to assess the relationship between the LBP/no-LBP groups and back posture parameters. Linear and logarithmic regressions were used with independent variables including group, sex, height, weight and body mass index (BMI). Significance level: α = 0.05 (95% confidence).ResultsThe regression analysis showed that sagittal parameters of the spine (sagittal trunk decline, thoracic and lumbar bending angle, kyphosis and lordosis angles) depend primarily on sex, age, BMI, height and/or weight but not on group membership (LBP/no-LBP). In the shoulder region, a significant dependency between group membership and scapular rotation was found. In the pelvic region, there were only significant dependencies in the transverse plane, particularly between pelvic torsion and BMI, weight, height and between pelvic rotation and group membership, age and sex.ConclusionNo difference between the patients and healthy controls were found. In addition, sex appears to be the main influencing factor for upper body posture. Other influencing factors such as BMI, height or weight also seem to have a significant influence on upper body posture more frequently than group affiliation.

Multifidus Muscle Contractility Deficit Was Not Specific to the Painful Side in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain During Remission: A Cross-Sectional Study.

PurposeMorphology studies demonstrated that patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) have bilateral multifidus muscle (LM) atrophy. This atrophy should result in LM contractility deficit bilaterally. Additionally, a recent study showed the effect of sex on LM thickness. Researchers proposed percentage LM contractility (LMCONT) as standardization to enable the comparison across participants. This study aimed to determine side-to-side difference in LMCONT and to determine the difference in LMCONT between males and females.Patients and MethodsTwenty-five healthy individuals (NoLBP group; 10 males and 15 females) and 35 with CLBP (CLBP group; 16 males and 19 females; 23 unilateral pain and 12 bilateral pain) were recruited. Ultrasound imaging was used to measure LM thickness at rest, during maximum voluntary isometric contraction, and during combined maximum voluntary isometric contraction with electrical stimulation. These data were used to calculate LMCONT. For unilateral CLBP, right and left LMCON were renamed to painful and non-painful sides.ResultsData demonstrated no significant difference (p > 0.05) between right (87.3 ± 13.7%) and left (87.2 ± 14.0%) in NoLBP, right (71.2 ± 15.7%) and left (76.5 ± 19.7%) in bilateral CLBP, and painful (70.3 ± 17.5%) and non-painful (77.7 ± 18.4%) in unilateral CLBP. No difference (p > 0.05) was found between males and females in both NoLBP (male 84.8 ± 6.5%, female 88.9 ± 15.4%) and CLBP groups (male 76.3 ± 15.5%, female 71.9 ± 14.0%).ConclusionThe findings suggested that LM contractility deficit in CLBP is not specific to painful side. No effect was found of sex on LM contractility. Therefore, we can use averaged LM activation across painful and non-painful sides and across males and females to compare between NoLBP and CLBP groups.

Does intra-lumbar flexion during lifting differ in manual workers with and without a history of low back pain? A cross-sectional laboratory study

Advice to limit or avoid a flexed lumbar curvature during lifting is widely promoted to reduce the risk of low back pain (LBP), yet there is very limited evidence to support this relationship. To provide higher quality evidence this study compared intra-lumbar flexion in manual workers with (n = 21) and without a history of LBP (n = 21) during a repeated lifting task. In contrast to common expectations, the LBP group demonstrated less peak absolute intra-lumbar flexion during lifting than the noLBP group [adjusted difference −3.7° (95%CI −6.9 to −0.6)]. The LBP group was also further from the end of range intra-lumbar flexion and did not use more intra-lumbar range of motion during any lift condition (both symmetrical and asymmetrical lifts and different box loads). Peak absolute intra-lumbar flexion was more variable in the LBP group during lifting and both groups increased their peak absolute intra-lumbar flexion over the lift repetitions. This high-quality capture of intra-lumbar spine flexion during repeated lifting in a clinically relevant cohort questions dominant safe lifting advice. Practitioner summary: Lifting remains a common trigger for low back pain (LBP). This study demonstrated that people with LBP, lift with less intra-lumbar flexion than those without LBP. Providing the best quality in-vivo laboratory evidence, that greater intra-lumbar flexion is not associated with LBP in manual workers, raising questions about lifting advice.

Individuals With Impaired Lumbopelvic Control Demonstrate Lumbar Multifidus Muscle Activation Deficit Using Ultrasound Imaging in Conjunction With Electrical Stimulation: A Cross-sectional Study

ObjectiveTo determine lumbar multifidus (LM) muscle activation deficits in individuals with impaired lumbopelvic control (iLPC) based on musculoskeletal ultrasound in conjunction with electrical stimulation approach and the correlation between back extension force and LM activation. DesignA cross-sectional study design. SettingA university laboratory. ParticipantsFifty participants (25 iLPC and 25 no low back pain [NoLBP]) were recruited from the university physical therapy clinic and surrounding areas. Main Outcome MeasuresThe musculoskeletal ultrasound was used to measure LM thickness at rest, maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), and electrical stimulation combined with MVIC, and a handheld dynamometer was used to record force during MVIC and electrical stimulation combined with MVIC. These data were used to derive LM activation (LMACT) and percentage force generation (ForceGEN). ResultsThe iLPC group had significantly lower LMACT (17%) than the NoLBP group (P<.05). No significant difference was seen in ForceGEN between the NoLBP and iLPC groups (P>.05). No significant correlation was seen between LMACT and ForceGEN (P>.05). ConclusionsThe findings support the utility of our protocol to determine LM activation deficits. The lower LM activation in iLPC group suggests that individuals with iLPC were unable to fully recruit the motor units available in LM. Force generation measurements may not be an appropriate approach to determine such deficits in LM.

Exploring lumbar and lower limb kinematics and kinetics for evidence that lifting technique is associated with LBP

To investigate if lumbar and lower limb kinematics or kinetics are different between groups with and without a history of LBP during lifting. Secondly, to investigate relationships between biomechanical variables and pain ramp during repeated lifting. 21 LBP and 20 noLBP participants completed a 100-lift task, where lumbar and lower limb kinematics and kinetics were measured during lifting, with a simultaneous report of LBP intensity every 10 lifts. Lifts were performed in a laboratory setting, limiting ecological validity. The LBP group used a different lifting technique to the noLBP group at the beginning of the task (slower and more squat-like). Kinetic differences at the beginning included less peak lumbar external anterior shear force and greater peak knee power demonstrated by the LBP group. However, at the end of the task, both groups lifted with a much more similar technique that could be classified as more stoop-like and faster. Peak knee power remained greater in the LBP group throughout and was the only kinetic difference between groups at the end of the lifting task. While both groups lifted using a more comparable technique at the end, the LBP group still demonstrated a tendency to perform a slower and more squat-like lift throughout the task. Only one of 21 variables (pelvic tilt at box lift-off), was associated with pain ramp in the LBP group. Conclusions: Workers with a history of LBP, lift with a style that is slower and more squat-like than workers without any history of LBP. Common assumptions that LBP is associated with lumbar kinematics or kinetics such as greater lumbar flexion or greater forces were not observed in this study, raising questions about the current paradigm around 'safe lifting'.

Combined neuromuscular electrical stimulation with motor control exercise can improve lumbar multifidus activation in individuals with recurrent low back pain

Motor control exercise (MCE) is commonly prescribed for patients with low back pain. Although MCE can improve clinical outcomes, lumbar multifidus muscle (LM) activation remains unchanged. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can be used to re-activate motor units prior to MCE which should result in increased LM activation. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the immediate effects of NMES combined with MCE on LM activation and motor performance. Twenty-five participants without low back pain (NoLBP) and 35 participants with movement control impairment (MCI) were recruited. Participants with MCI were further randomized to combined NMES with MCE (COMB) or sham-NMES with MCE (MCE) group. Ultrasound imaging was used to measure LM thickness at rest, maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), and NMES with MVIC. These data were used to calculate LM activation. Quadruped rocking backward was used to represent motor performance. LM activation and motor performance were measured at baseline and after one-session of intervention. Results showed that both COMB and MCE groups had significantly lower (P < 0.05) LM activation compared with NoLBP group at baseline. Additionally, both COMB and MCE groups demonstrated significant improvement (P < 0.05) in motor performance while COMB group demonstrated significantly greater improvement (P < 0.05) in LM activation compared with MCE group. Individuals with MCI still have persisting LM activation deficit. Our key findings suggest that combined NMES and MCE may have better ability to improve LM activation in individuals with MCI. These findings would support the utility of NMES to induce a priming effect before MCE.

The Impact of Concomitant LOW Back Pain (LBP) on Functional Outcomes in Total Ankle Arthroplasty (TAA)

Although numerous studies have demonstrated that concomitant low back pain (LBP) is associated with worse functional outcomes in patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty, no study has analyzed its impact on patients undergoing total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of LBP in people undergoing TAA and analyze its impact on patient reported functional outcome measures (PROMs). A retrospective review was performed on data from the Vancouver End Stage Ankle Arthritis Database. In total, 87 patients undergoing TAA were studied, with patient demographics collected preoperatively, including the absence or presence of LBP. Postoperative follow-up was performed at 5 years, primarily analyzing disease-specific PROMs including the Ankle Osteoarthritis Score and Ankle Arthritis Score. The Short Form-36 was used as a secondary outcome measure to assess global function. Multivariable linear mixed-effects regression models were conducted to compare the PROM between patients with LBP with those without LBP. In total, 30 patients (35%) presented with concomitant LBP. There were no significant differences at baseline between the LBP group and no LBP group in terms of demographics or baseline primary disease-specific PROMs. At 5 years, the patients with LBP had significantly worse Ankle Arthritis Score (32 ± 23 vs 22 ± 17, p = .03), Ankle Osteoarthritis Score Total (34 ± 23 vs 22 ± 16, p = .01), and Short Form-36 physical (PCS) components summaries (33 ± 12 vs 44 ± 9, p = .001) compared to the no-LBP group. Both groups improved significantly from baseline across all outcome measures. Our study demonstrated that the prevalence of concomitant LBP in end stage ankle arthritis undergoing TAA is similar to that described in arthritic knees and hips. If present, it can be associated with worse functional outcomes in the intermediate term. However it is not a contraindication to surgery, with patients still experiencing significant improvements from baseline. Further studies are needed to evaluate if LBP influences complications, implant failure rates and survival.

Does movement matter in people with back pain? Investigating \u2018atypical\u2019 lumbo-pelvic kinematics in people with and without back pain using wireless movement sensors

BackgroundInterventions for low back pain (LBP) commonly target ‘dysfunctional’ or atypical lumbo-pelvic kinematics in the belief that correcting aberrant movement improves patients’ pain and activity outcomes. If atypical kinematic parameters and postures have a relationship to LBP, they could be expected to more prevalent in people with LBP compared to people without LBP (NoLBP). This exploratory study measured, defined and compared atypical kinematic parameters in people with and without LBP.MethodsWireless inertial motion and EMG sensors were used to measure lumbo-pelvic kinematics during standing trunk flexion (range of motion (ROM), timing, sequence coordination, and extensor muscle activation) and in sitting (relative sitting position, pelvic tilt range) in a sample of 126 of adults without LBP and 140 chronic LBP subjects. Atypical movement was defined using the 10th/90th centiles of the NoLBP group. Mean differences and prevalence rates for atypical movement were calculated. Dichotomised pain scores for ‘high-pain-on-bending’ and ‘high-pain-on-sitting’ were tested for their association with atypical kinematic variables.ResultsFor standing flexion, significant mean differences, after adjusting for age and gender factors, were seen for the LBP group with (i) reduced ROM (trunk flexion (NoLBP 111o, LBP 93o, p < .0001), lumbar flexion (NoLBP 52o, LBP 46o, p < .0001), pelvic flexion (NoLBP 59o, LBP 48o, p < .0001), (ii) greater extensor muscle activation for the LBP group (NoLBP 0.012, LBP 0.25 p < .0001), (iii) a greater delay in pelvic motion at the onset of flexion (NoLBP − 0.21 s; LBP − 0.36 s, p = 0.023), (iv) and longer movement duration for the LBP group (NoLBP 2.28 s; LBP 3.18 s, p < .0001). Atypical movement was significantly more prevalent in the LBP group for small trunk (× 5.4), lumbar (× 3.0) and pelvic ROM (× 3.9), low FRR (× 4.9), delayed pelvic motion at 20o flexion (× 2.9), and longer movement duration (× 4.7). No differences between groups were seen for any sitting parameters. High pain intensity was significantly associated with small lumbar ROM and pelvic ROM.ConclusionSignificant movement differences during flexion were seen in people with LBP, with a higher prevalence of small ROM, slower movement, delayed pelvic movement and greater lumbar extensor muscle activation but without differences for any sitting parameter.

The immediate effects of exercise using the Functional Re-adaptive Exercise Device on lumbopelvic kinematics in people with and without low back pain

BackgroundDysfunction of the lumbar multifidus (LM) and transversus abdominis (TrA) muscles is associated with low back pain (LBP). The Functional Re-adaptive Exercise Device (FRED) has shown potential as a non-specific LBP intervention by automatically recruiting LM and TrA. Loss or lordosis and altered lumbopelvic positioning has also been linked to LBP and is often trained within LM and TrA interventions. The effect that FRED exercise has on lumbopelvic positioning and lumbar lordosis is unknown. ObjectivesTo assess the effect of FRED exercise on lumbopelvic kinematics and alignment to establish whether FRED exercise promotes a favourable lumbopelvic posture for training LM and TrA. DesignWithin and between-group comparison study. MethodOne hundred and thirty participants, 74 experiencing LBP, had lumbopelvic kinematic data measured during over-ground walking and FRED exercise. Magnitude-based inferences were used to compare walking with FRED exercise within participants and between the asymptomatic and LBP groups, to establish the effects of FRED exercise on lumbopelvic kinematics, compared to walking, in each group. ResultsFRED exercise promotes an immediate change in anterior pelvic tilt by 8.7° compared to walking in the no-LBP and LBP groups. Sagittal-plane spinal extension increased during FRED exercise at all spinal levels by 0.9° in the no-LBP group, and by 1.2° in the LBP group. ConclusionsFRED exercise promotes a lumbopelvic position more conducive to LM and TrA training than walking in both asymptomatic people and those with LBP.

Attention-demand effects on respiration in chronic low back pain patients

Increasing attention is being drawn towards the involvement of systems other than the musculoskeletal one in the presence of low back pain (LBP). Recent evidence suggests both cognitive and respiratory functions to be affected in LBP patients. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of performance of a cognitive task on the respiratory function in LBP patients with that in control participants. Capnography and spirometry parameters of 48 participants (24 in each group) were assessed under 3 cognitive loading conditions (no, easy and difficult cognitive task). The results showed that in both groups the respiratory function was significantly affected by the introduction of the cognitive task (p < 0.05) and in the same manner (p > 0.05). Capnography and spirometry variables alterations were significantly correlated in the no-LBP group (p < 0.05) but there was no significant relationship between respiratory parameters and capnography and disability indices in the LBP group (p > 0.05). The findings of the current study suggest that while performing a cognitive task affects respiratory function, the possible differences of LBP patients and control participants may not be elicited under simple non-physically demanding postural conditions.

An ultrasound evaluation of the relationship between changes in the lumbar perimuscular layer and Body Mass Index in people with non-specific lower back pain

BACKGROUND Mechanisms underlying non-specific lower back pain are still poorly understood. In an ultrasound-based study, Langevin et al. [1] found differences in the lumbar connective tissue structures in people with non-specific lower back pain (LBP) compared to people without (no-LBP). The aim of this study is to extend the work of Langevin and colleagues, and evaluate the relationship between the lumbar perimuscular layer and Body Mass Index (BMI) in LBP and no-LBP people. METHODS This study is a cross-sectional study design. Ultrasound imaging was used to investigate the echogenicity and thickness of the lumbar perimuscular layer in 45 participants (31 LBP, 14 no-LBP). The outcome measures were the thickness and echogenicity of the lumbar perimuscular layer. Longitudinal B-Mode ultrasound images were taken bi-laterally on an area 2 cm lateral to the midpoint between the spinous processes of L2-3,at a frequency of 18MHz, depth of 3 cm, (EsoateMyLab 25Gold, Firenze, Italy) using a 4 cm linear probe (Esaote LA435, Firenze, Italy) . Images were converted to grey-scale in Matlab (Mathworks, USA). The borders of the perimuscular layer were identified by a blinded investigator. Thickness was calculated in pixels and echogenicity as the average grey-scale value. Data was analysed using ANCOVA and linear regression. RESULTS The LBP and no-LBP groups did not significantly differ in age, sex, BMI or level of physical activity. Age (r= .452, p =.002) and BMI (r= .374, p =.013) showed significant positive correlations with perimuscular thickness, but not with perimuscular echogenicity. BMI significantly predicted perimuscular thickness (ANCOVA: p = .016), whereas group membership did not (ANCOVA:p=.168). Perimuscular echogenicity could be significantly predicted only by considering the interaction between group membership and BMI. The interaction between BMI and group membership accounted for 16% of the observed changes in perimuscular echogenicity (ANCOVA:p=.006). The interaction arose because in the no-LBP group, echogenicity significantly decreased as BMI increased (Regression:p = .005). In contrast, there was no systematic relationship between perimuscular echogenicity and BMI in the LBP group (Regression:p = .391). CONCLUSIONS Measurements of echogenicity can only be accounted for by considering group membership (LBP and no-LBP) and BMI values jointly. The relationship between BMI and echogenicity (negative correlation) in the no-LBP group is not found in participants with LBP. Possible causes, which require further investigation, include: sub-failure, changes in movement patterns, chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and/or fatty tissue infiltration.

Reduced thoracolumbar fascia shear strain in human chronic low back pain

BackgroundThe role played by the thoracolumbar fascia in chronic low back pain (LBP) is poorly understood. The thoracolumbar fascia is composed of dense connective tissue layers separated by layers of loose connective tissue that normally allow the dense layers to glide past one another during trunk motion. The goal of this study was to quantify shear plane motion within the thoracolumbar fascia using ultrasound elasticity imaging in human subjects with and without chronic low back pain (LBP).MethodsWe tested 121 human subjects, 50 without LBP and 71 with LBP of greater than 12 months duration. In each subject, an ultrasound cine-recording was acquired on the right and left sides of the back during passive trunk flexion using a motorized articulated table with the hinge point of the table at L4-5 and the ultrasound probe located longitudinally 2 cm lateral to the midline at the level of the L2-3 interspace. Tissue displacement within the thoracolumbar fascia was calculated using cross correlation techniques and shear strain was derived from this displacement data. Additional measures included standard range of motion and physical performance evaluations as well as ultrasound measurement of perimuscular connective tissue thickness and echogenicity.ResultsThoracolumbar fascia shear strain was reduced in the LBP group compared with the No-LBP group (56.4% ± 3.1% vs. 70.2% ± 3.6% respectively, p < .01). There was no evidence that this difference was sex-specific (group by sex interaction p = .09), although overall, males had significantly lower shear strain than females (p = .02). Significant correlations were found in male subjects between thoracolumbar fascia shear strain and the following variables: perimuscular connective tissue thickness (r = -0.45, p <.001), echogenicity (r = -0.28, p < .05), trunk flexion range of motion (r = 0.36, p < .01), trunk extension range of motion (r = 0.41, p < .01), repeated forward bend task duration (r = -0.54, p < .0001) and repeated sit-to-stand task duration (r = -0.45, p < .001).ConclusionThoracolumbar fascia shear strain was ~20% lower in human subjects with chronic low back pain. This reduction of shear plane motion may be due to abnormal trunk movement patterns and/or intrinsic connective tissue pathology. There appears to be some sex-related differences in thoracolumbar fascia shear strain that may also play a role in altered connective tissue function.

Ultrasound evidence of altered lumbar connective tissue structure in human subjects with chronic low back pain.

BackgroundAlthough the connective tissues forming the fascial planes of the back have been hypothesized to play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic low back pain (LBP), there have been no previous studies quantitatively evaluating connective tissue structure in this condition. The goal of this study was to perform an ultrasound-based comparison of perimuscular connective tissue structure in the lumbar region in a group of human subjects with chronic or recurrent LBP for more than 12 months, compared with a group of subjects without LBP.MethodsIn each of 107 human subjects (60 with LBP and 47 without LBP), parasagittal ultrasound images were acquired bilaterally centered on a point 2 cm lateral to the midpoint of the L2-3 interspinous ligament. The outcome measures based on these images were subcutaneous and perimuscular connective tissue thickness and echogenicity measured by ultrasound.ResultsThere were no significant differences in age, sex, body mass index (BMI) or activity levels between LBP and No-LBP groups. Perimuscular thickness and echogenicity were not correlated with age but were positively correlated with BMI. The LBP group had ~25% greater perimuscular thickness and echogenicity compared with the No-LBP group (ANCOVA adjusted for BMI, p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 respectively).ConclusionThis is the first report of abnormal connective tissue structure in the lumbar region in a group of subjects with chronic or recurrent LBP. This finding was not attributable to differences in age, sex, BMI or activity level between groups. Possible causes include genetic factors, abnormal movement patterns and chronic inflammation.

Hip rotation range of motion in people with and without low back pain who participate in rotation-related sports

Objective To examine whether passive hip rotation motion was different between people with and without low back pain (LBP) who regularly participate in sports that require repeated rotation of the trunk and hips. We hypothesized that people with LBP would have less total hip rotation motion and more asymmetry of motion between sides than people without LBP. Design Two group, case control. Setting University-based musculoskeletal analysis laboratory. Participants Forty-eight subjects (35 males, 13 females; mean age: 26.56±7.44 years) who reported regular participation in a rotation-related sport participated. Two groups were compared; people with LBP ( N=24) and people without LBP ( N=24; NoLBP). Main outcome measures: Data were collected on participant-related, LBP-related, sport-related, and activity-related variables. Measures of passive hip rotation range of motion were obtained. The differences between the LBP and NoLBP groups were examined. Results People with and without a history of LBP were the same with regard to all participant-related, sport-related and activity-related variables. The LBP group had significantly less total rotation ( P=.035) and more asymmetry of total rotation, right hip versus left hip ( P=.022) than the NoLBP group. Left total hip rotation was more limited than right total hip rotation in the LBP group ( P=.004). There were no significant differences in left and right total hip rotation for the NoLBP group ( P=.323). Conclusions Among people who participate in rotation-related sports, those with LBP had less overall passive hip rotation motion and more asymmetry of rotation between sides than people without LBP. These findings suggest that the specific directional demands imposed on the hip and trunk during regularly performed activities may be an important consideration in deciding which impairments may be most relevant to test and to consider in prevention and intervention strategies.