Diogo Carvalho Felício1, Juliano Bergamaschine Mata Diz2, Daniele Sirineu Pereira3, Bárbara Zille de Queiroz4, Juscélio Pereira de Silva5, Bruno de Souza Moreira6, Vinícius Cunha Oliveira7, Leani Souza Máximo Pereira8. 1. Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, s/n Eugênio do Nascimento Avenue, 36038-330, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Physical Therapy, Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, 6627 Antônio Carlos Avenue, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: diogofelicio@yahoo.com.br. 2. Department of Physical Therapy, Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, 6627 Antônio Carlos Avenue, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: julianodiz@gmail.com. 3. Department of Physical Therapy, Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, 6627 Antônio Carlos Avenue, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Faculty of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Alfenas, 2600 Jovino Fernandes Sales Avenue, 31270-901, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: daniele.sirineu@gmail.com. 4. Department of Physical Therapy, Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, 6627 Antônio Carlos Avenue, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: babzille@gmail.com. 5. Department of Physical Therapy, Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, 6627 Antônio Carlos Avenue, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: juscels@yahoo.com.br. 6. Department of Physical Therapy, Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, 6627 Antônio Carlos Avenue, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: brunosouzamoreira@gmail.com. 7. Department of Physical Therapy, Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, 6627 Antônio Carlos Avenue, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Physical Therapy, Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation and Functional Performance, Federal University of Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Campus JK, 5000 MGT 367 Highway, 39100-000, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: viniciuscunhaoliveira@yahoo.com.br. 8. Department of Physical Therapy, Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, 6627 Antônio Carlos Avenue, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: leanismp.bh@terra.com.br.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Older women with low back pain (LBP) constitute a special subpopulation at risk of severe and permanent disability. It is important to identify factors limiting functionality in this population in order to reduce costs and improve both prevention and intervention. Handgrip strength (HGS) is a biomarker of aging associated with several adverse health outcomes, but long-term associations with disability in older patients with LBP are not known. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether HGS predicts disability in older women with acute low back pain (LBP). METHODS: Longitudinal analyses were conducted with a sample of 135 older women from the international multicenter study Back Complaints in the Elders (BACE-Brazil). Women aged 60 years and over with a new episode of acute LBP were included. HGS was assessed with Jamar® dynamometer, and disability was assessed using the Roland Morris questionnaire and gait speed test. Variables were assessed at baseline and at 12-month follow-up. Linear regression models explored associations between HGS and disability measures. RESULTS: Significant association was found between HGS at baseline and gait speed at 12-month follow-up (r=-0.24; p=0.004). A multivariable-adjusted model showed that this association was independent of age, body mass index, and pain intensity (adjusted R2=0.13; p<0.001). A final prediction model showed an incremental difference of only 2.1% in gait speed after inclusion of HGS as an independent variable. No association was found between HGS and score on the Roland Morris questionnaire. CONCLUSION: Caution is needed regarding the use of HGS as a predictive measure of disability in older women with acute LBP. Changes in gait speed were very small and unlikely to be of clinical relevance.
BACKGROUND: Older women with low back pain (LBP) constitute a special subpopulation at risk of severe and permanent disability. It is important to identify factors limiting functionality in this population in order to reduce costs and improve both prevention and intervention. Handgrip strength (HGS) is a biomarker of aging associated with several adverse health outcomes, but long-term associations with disability in older patients with LBP are not known. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether HGS predicts disability in older women with acute low back pain (LBP). METHODS: Longitudinal analyses were conducted with a sample of 135 older women from the international multicenter study Back Complaints in the Elders (BACE-Brazil). Women aged 60 years and over with a new episode of acute LBP were included. HGS was assessed with Jamar® dynamometer, and disability was assessed using the Roland Morris questionnaire and gait speed test. Variables were assessed at baseline and at 12-month follow-up. Linear regression models explored associations between HGS and disability measures. RESULTS: Significant association was found between HGS at baseline and gait speed at 12-month follow-up (r=-0.24; p=0.004). A multivariable-adjusted model showed that this association was independent of age, body mass index, and pain intensity (adjusted R2=0.13; p<0.001). A final prediction model showed an incremental difference of only 2.1% in gait speed after inclusion of HGS as an independent variable. No association was found between HGS and score on the Roland Morris questionnaire. CONCLUSION: Caution is needed regarding the use of HGS as a predictive measure of disability in older women with acute LBP. Changes in gait speed were very small and unlikely to be of clinical relevance.
Authors: Diogo Carvalho Felício; José E Filho; Túlio M D de Oliveira; Daniele S Pereira; Vitor T M Rocha; Juliana M M Barbosa; Marcella Guimarães Assis; Carla Malaguti; Leani S M Pereira Journal: Arch Orthop Trauma Surg Date: 2021-05-21 Impact factor: 3.067