Relationship Between Spinal Amplitude of Movement & Low Back Pain

Can the amount of movement in someone’s back influence the presence and/or severity of low back pain? This study investigates…

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and a common reason patients present to primary care providers. Although research has demonstrated that patients with LBP show reduced spinal amplitude of movement (spinal amplitude) compared to asymptomatic controls, previous studies have not elucidated the extent to which reduced spinal amplitude contributes to pain and disability.

While spinal movement alterations are a common rehabilitation target, little is known about whether improving spinal amplitude is associated with improved pain and disability. Previous systematic reviews have examined the relationship between spinal movement alterations, disability and pain intensity, but meta-analyses have been more limited.

The primary objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the relationships between spinal amplitude, pain, and disability. The relationships were tested separately in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies.

A meta-analysis with a large study population may provide a more comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence. As well, testing the associations between spinal amplitude and disability or pain intensity will advance the understanding of the role of spinal amplitude in LBP, particularly whether a change in spinal amplitude may be a mechanism by which pain is reduced, ultimately leading to a reduction in disability.

This week’s Research Review: Relationship Between Spinal Amplitude of Movement & Low Back Pain

This paper was published in the European Journal of Pain (2024)

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