Chronic non-specific low back pain influences mechanics during walking and transferring load among nurses

This study aimed to compare full-body biomechanical outcomes, during walking and 180° lateral transfer between healthy and chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) nurses.

A total of 26 female nurses (healthy group = 13 and CNLBP group = 13) with at least 2 years of work experience were recruited. Three-dimensional (3D) motion analyses of full-body kinematics and kinetics were captured during walking and 180° lateral load transfer. An independent t test was used to compare the differences across groups.

There were significant differences in biomechanical factors in the frontal plane during walking and 180° lateral transfer. The results indicate that those with CNLBP walk with more lumbar, hip, knee and ankle adduction, and lateral pelvic tilt at initial contact and maximum vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) in dominant compared to the healthy group. Moreover, those with CNLBP lifted the load with more lumbar and ankle abduction and less hip and knee abduction then dropped the load with more lumbar abduction and less hip and knee abduction with lateral pelvic tilt than the healthy group.

Nurses with CNLBP employed greater lumbar flexion during walking and greater abduction during 180° lateral transfer than healthy nurses. This motion caused the upper body to move toward the load and decreased the VGRF, thereby indirectly applying the narrow base transfer technique. Furthermore, an increase in lumbar flexion during walking among nurses with CNLBP was common, as a compensatory mechanism to avoid pain.