Static and dynamic balance deficiencies in chronic low back pain

BACKGROUND: According to previously conducted studies, people with Low Back Pain (LBP) present with static balance deficiencies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to compare static, as well as dynamic balance ability between Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) and healthy subjects. METHODS: The CLBP group comprised 17 subjects and the control group of 16 subjects, matched for age, BMI and gender. The protocol applied compared the balance ability when performing the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and the static 1-leg stance position. The innovation introduced in the protocol was that the participants performed not only the static 1-leg stance, but also the dynamic SEBT on a force plate which recorded the target sway (TS), i.e. the Center of Pressure (CoP) excursion. RESULTS: The CLBP group had significantly reduced performance in SEBT, coupled with greater static and dynamic TS values. Age and especially BMI also bear a significant effect on SEBT execution. The inclusion of SEBT and TS derived scores in a stepwise logistic regression equation lead to the correct classification of 85% of the subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic and static balance ability provide supplementary information for the identification of the presence of CLBP, with dynamic balance being more instrumental.