The correlation between low back pain intensity and sensorimotor function in postpartum women: an analytic
1Department of Exercise Rehabilitation, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
Objective:
This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between postpartum low back pain (PLBP) intensity and postural control and proprioception in postpartum women.
Design:
This cross-sectional study included 51 women, with a mean of 60.67 ± 3.35 days postpartum. The researchers analyzed the association between PLBP (using a visual analog scale) and several factors, such as postural stability, average speed, path length (measured with a Biodex balance device and Zebris foot pressure), and lumbopelvic proprioception (assessed with a goniometer). Also, Pearson correlations and linear regressions were performed to evaluate the relationships between pain intensity and postural stability metrics.
Results:
Linear regression analyses demonstrated that PLBP was a significant predictor of increased lumbopelvic proprioception error (β = 0.764 ; F = 68.57 ; p = 0.009), reduced static overall stability (β = 0.590; F = 25.62 ; p = 0.009), and impaired static anterior-posterior stability (β = 0.503; F = 16.63; p = 0.009). Besides, no significant associations were found between PLBP and static mediolateral stability or dynamic stability indices (p ≥ 0.05; β ≤ 0.350).
Conclusion:
This study showed that PLBP is strongly associated with impairment in proprioceptive receptors and postural stability, particularly in the anterior-posterior plane. Postpartum rehabilitation should include proprioceptive training to enhance postural control and reduce lumbopelvic pain.
Ethical Approval:
IR.BASU.REC.1403.009.
