• Rene Rogieri Caffaro, Fábio Jorge Renovato França, Thomaz Nogueira Burke, Maurício Oliveira Magalhães, Luiz Armando Vidal Ramos, and Amélia Pasqual Marques.
• Department of Speech, Physical and Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
• Eur Spine J. 2014 Apr 1; 23 (4): 807-13.

Study DesignA preliminary case-control study.ObjectiveTo assess postural control in individuals with and without non-specific chronic low back pain (cLBP) during quiet standing. cLBP affects 12-33 % of the adult population. Reasons for pain chronicity are yet poorly known. Change in postural control may be a risk factor for cLBP, although available studies are not conclusive.MethodsSample consisted of 21 individuals with cLBP and 23 controls without cLBP. Balance was assessed using a force plate (Balance Master, NeuroCom) by the modified clinical test of sensory interaction and balance, pain severity by the visual analogue scale, quality of life with the SF-36 Questionnaire, and functional disability with the Roland-Morris Questionnaire.ResultsGroups were homogeneous for age, weight, height and body mass index. Relative to controls, participants in the cLBP group had deficits in the postural control, with greater postural sway in the quiet standing condition with closed eyes closed on unstable surfaces (p < 0.05) for the following parameters: total COP oscillation [cLBP 1,432.82 (73.27) vs CG 1,187.77 (60.30)], root mean square sagittal plane [cLBP 1.21 (0.06) vs CG 1.04 (0.04)], COP area [cLBP 24.27 (2.47) vs CG 16.45 (1.79)] and mean speed of oscillation [cLBP 12.97 (0.84) vs CG 10.55 (0.70)].ConclusionPostural control, as evidenced by increased oscillation of COP, is impaired in individuals with cLBP relative to controls. Differences are magnified by visual deprivation and unstable surface conditions.

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