Camilla Fongen1,2, Hanne Dagfinrud3,4, Inger Jorid Berg3,4, Sofia Ramiro3,4, Floris van Gaalen3,4, Robert Landewé3,4, Roberta Ramonda3,4, Désirée van der Heijde3,4, Karen Minde Fagerli3,4. 1. From the Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Rehabilitation in Rheumatology, and the Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden; Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. camilla.fongen@diakonsyk.no. 2. C. Fongen, PT, MSc, Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Rehabilitation in Rheumatology and Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; H. Dagfinrud, PT, PhD, Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Rehabilitation in Rheumatology and Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; I.J. Berg, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; S. Ramiro, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center; F. van Gaalen, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center; R. Landewé, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Medical Center; R. Ramonda, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padua; D. van der Heijde, MD, PhD; Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center; K.M. Fagerli, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital. camilla.fongen@diakonsyk.no. 3. From the Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Rehabilitation in Rheumatology, and the Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden; Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. 4. C. Fongen, PT, MSc, Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Rehabilitation in Rheumatology and Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; H. Dagfinrud, PT, PhD, Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Rehabilitation in Rheumatology and Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; I.J. Berg, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; S. Ramiro, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center; F. van Gaalen, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center; R. Landewé, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Medical Center; R. Ramonda, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padua; D. van der Heijde, MD, PhD; Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center; K.M. Fagerli, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the frequency of impaired spinal mobility in patients with chronic back pain of short duration and to compare it with the frequency of impaired spinal mobility in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), possible SpA, and no SpA. METHODS: The SpondyloArthritis Caught Early (SPACE) cohort includes patients with chronic back pain (≥ 3 mos, ≤ 2 yrs, onset < 45 yrs). Spinal mobility was assessed with lateral spinal flexion, chest expansion, cervical rotation, occiput-to-wall distance, and lumbar flexion. Hip mobility was assessed with intermalleolar distance. Mobility measures were defined as impaired if below the 5th percentile reference curve from general population, adjusted for age and height when appropriate. Proportions of patients categorized with impaired mobility were examined with chi square. RESULTS: In total, 393 patients with chronic back pain were included: 142 axSpA, 140 possible SpA, and 111 no SpA. Impairment in ≥ 1 mobility measure was present in 66% of all patients. The most frequently impaired mobility measure was lateral spinal flexion (40%), followed by chest expansion (22%), cervical rotation (18%), intermalleolar distance (17%), lumbar flexion (15%), and occiput-to-wall distance (11%). No statistically significant differences in proportion of patients with impaired spinal mobility were found between patients with axSpA and the other subgroups in any of the tests. CONCLUSION: Two out of 3 patients with chronic back pain of short duration had impaired spinal mobility compared to the general population. Impaired spinal mobility occurs as often in patients with early axSpA as in other forms of chronic back pain.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the frequency of impaired spinal mobility in patients with chronic back pain of short duration and to compare it with the frequency of impaired spinal mobility in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), possible SpA, and no SpA. METHODS: The SpondyloArthritis Caught Early (SPACE) cohort includes patients with chronic back pain (≥ 3 mos, ≤ 2 yrs, onset < 45 yrs). Spinal mobility was assessed with lateral spinal flexion, chest expansion, cervical rotation, occiput-to-wall distance, and lumbar flexion. Hip mobility was assessed with intermalleolar distance. Mobility measures were defined as impaired if below the 5th percentile reference curve from general population, adjusted for age and height when appropriate. Proportions of patients categorized with impaired mobility were examined with chi square. RESULTS: In total, 393 patients with chronic back pain were included: 142 axSpA, 140 possible SpA, and 111 no SpA. Impairment in ≥ 1 mobility measure was present in 66% of all patients. The most frequently impaired mobility measure was lateral spinal flexion (40%), followed by chest expansion (22%), cervical rotation (18%), intermalleolar distance (17%), lumbar flexion (15%), and occiput-to-wall distance (11%). No statistically significant differences in proportion of patients with impaired spinal mobility were found between patients with axSpA and the other subgroups in any of the tests. CONCLUSION: Two out of 3 patients with chronic back pain of short duration had impaired spinal mobility compared to the general population. Impaired spinal mobility occurs as often in patients with early axSpA as in other forms of chronic back pain.
Entities:
Keywords:
AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS; BACK PAIN; OUTCOME ASSESSMENT; SPINAL MOBILITY