Disability and walking capacity in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: association with sensorimotor function, balance, and functional performance.

STUDY
DESIGN: One-group, prospective, cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVES: To determine how sensorimotor function, balance, and physical performance are associated with disability and walking capacity in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.
BACKGROUND: Disability and limited walking capacity are often reported by patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Identification of associated factors could provide information for future investigations leading to better prevention and intervention strategies. METHODS AND MEASURES: Fifty patients with lumbar spinal stenosis answered questions regarding symptom intensity, disability, and walking capacity. Muscle strength and vibration sense were assessed to represent sensorimotor function. Balance ability was measured by single-leg stance time and basic physical performance was tested by the up-and-go (UG) test. Regression analyses, entering demographics and symptom intensity as control variables, and sensory, strength, balance, and physical performance as additional independent variables, were conducted separately for disability and walking capacity.
RESULTS: Symptom intensity, vibration sense at the big toe, and UG test time were significantly correlated with disability. The final regression model showed that the control variables explained 20% of the variance, while vibration sense and UG test time explained an additional 20% of the variance. Walking capacity was significantly correlated with vibration sense at the big toe and UG test time. No significant regression model emerged for walking capacity.
CONCLUSIONS: A moderate amount of variance in disability could be explained by sensory function at the big toe and physical performance. These factors should be considered in future research.