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VO(2)max in patients with chronic pain: comparative analysis with objective and subjective tests of disability
F Doury-Panchout1, J C Metivier, M J Borie-Malavieille
1Service de médecine physique et réadaptation, CHU de Tours, 2, boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France. florence.dourypanchout@gmail.com
Objectives:
To establish the level of maximal aerobic capacity in patients with chronic pain of different etiologies and to compare these results with different parameters of disability.
Patients And Methods:
A cycloergometer exercise test with VO(2)max measurement, fatigue assessment and objective and subjective disability parameter testing was performed on 155 patients (mean age 42.1 ± 9.9 years) classified into three groups: patients with chronic lower back pain, patients with an upper limb musculoskeletal disorder, and patients with multifocal chronic pain.
Results:
The mean VO(2)max value was 22.18 mL/min/kg. There was no statistically significant difference in VO(2)max between the three groups. The patients with poorest aerobic condition were older (P<0.007), were on sick leave longer (P<0.03), had weaker Sorensen test (P<0.01) and P.I.L.E. (P<0.004) results, had more perceived fatigue (P<0.04), a higher mean BMI (P<0.0001) and gained more weight during sick leave (P<0.02).
Discussion:
Numerous studies have examined loss of aerobic capacity due to chronic low back pain with contradictory results. This is probably due to variability of in the methods used to measure or calculate VO(2)max as well as to the variability in the studied populations.
Conclusion:
It seems appropriate to offer patients with chronic pain multidisciplinary exercise rehabilitation programs.
