Assessing the association between degenerative disc disease and spinal mobility

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Biomechanics
• Pain Management

Background:

• Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a common cause of chronic low back pain (cLBP) and disability.
• The impact of DDD on spinal mobility and its functional consequences are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between lumbar disc degeneration and spinal mobility.
• To assess the functional consequences of disc degeneration on spinal movement.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 909 general population participants, excluding those with specific LBP.
• Lumbar disc degeneration graded using the Pfirrmann classification (PG).
• Uni- and multivariable regression analyses examined the relationship between PG and spinal mobility, controlling for confounders; subgroup analyses by sex, cLBP status, and age were performed.

Main Results:

• Higher lumbar PG was significantly associated with reduced sagittal lumbar and rotational mobility (p < 0.001) and increased thoracic sagittal mobility (p = 0.005) in males.
• Mobility impairments were more pronounced in individuals with cLBP and older patients.
• 46.3% of participants had cLBP.

Conclusions:

• Lumbar disc degeneration is linked to reduced spinal mobility, particularly in individuals with cLBP.
• Chronic pain may disrupt compensatory mechanisms, leading to more pronounced mobility loss in cLBP patients.
• Findings support the role of disc degeneration in cLBP and emphasize the need for targeted interventions.