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Sarcopenia in elderly patients with chronic low back pain
Yoshihito Sakai1, Hiroki Matsui1, Sadayuki Ito2
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan.
Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia
|February 19, 2019
Summary
Elderly individuals with chronic low back pain (CLBP) exhibit lower skeletal muscle mass and higher body fat, indicating sarcopenia is linked to CLBP. Muscle strengthening may help manage or prevent CLBP in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Musculoskeletal Health
- Pain Management
Background:
- Chronic low back pain (CLBP) prevalence increases with age, involving mechanisms like osteoporosis.
- Associations between CLBP and sarcopenia, age-related muscle loss, have not been established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between sarcopenia and CLBP in elderly individuals.
- To compare skeletal muscle mass and body fat composition between CLBP and non-CLBP groups.
Main Methods:
- 100 CLBP patients and 560 non-CLBP (nCLBP) patients over 65 years were studied.
- Skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and body fat percentage were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
- Sarcopenia was defined using established criteria; paraspinal muscle areas were assessed via MRI.
Main Results:
- Sarcopenia was diagnosed in 40.0% of CLBP patients versus 26.6% of nCLBP patients.
- The CLBP group showed significantly lower SMI and higher body fat percentage.
- Reduced cross-sectional areas of lumbar multifidus and erector spinae muscles were observed in the CLBP group.
Conclusions:
- Elderly patients with CLBP have significantly reduced skeletal muscle mass, suggesting a link between age-related sarcopenia mechanisms and chronic pain.
- Muscle strengthening and performance training interventions may be beneficial for treating or preventing CLBP in the elderly.
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