Isometric back strength of low back pain patients and healthy controls

The primary objective of this study was to determine the back strength of low back pain patients and to compare their values with healthy control subjects. Using the back and leg dynamometer, we measured the isometric back strength of 21 patients (14 men and 7 women), with chronic low back pain and 21 (14 men and 7 women) healthy (control) subjects. Both groups are comparable (p greater than 0.05) in age, body weight, height and Quetelet index (weight/height2). The back strength of the low back pain patients is not significantly (p greater than 0.05) different from their sex, age and anthropometric matched healthy controls. However, the males in the study were stronger (p less than 0.01) than their female counterparts. Based on our findings, we conclude that weakness of the paraspinal extension muscles is not the likely primary cause of idiopathic low back pain.