Correlations between joint and spinal mobility, spinal sagittal configuration, segmental mobility, segmental pain, symptoms and disabilities in female homecare personnel.

The aim of a study comprising 607 women working as homecare personnel was to investigate general spinal, joint and segmental mobility, different symptoms (pain and strain) and their relation to various aspects of disability. Joint mobility (mainly peripheral) was estimated using the "Beighton" score and spinal posture and mobility were measured by kyphometer. Passive segmental mobility and pain provocation were estimated manually. Pain intensity and strain during work and leisure were estimated using visual analogue scales for defined anatomical regions. Disability was rated using defined items and two indices. The 7-day prevalence of low back pain was 48%. Peripheral joint mobility, spinal sagittal posture and thoracic sagittal mobility showed low correlations with disability. Lumbar sagittal hypomobility was associated with higher disability. Manually estimated segmental mobility and segmental pain provocation of L4-L5 and L5-S1 correlated with disability; hypo- and hypermobility or positive pain provocation tests at these levels showed higher disability than normal mobility and negative pain provocation tests, respectively. Cluster analysis revealed that the combination of positive pain provocation tests and low lumbar sagittal mobility was associated with particularly high disability levels. In conclusion, positive pain provocation tests were clearly associated with high disability levels.