• Stephanie A Weyrauch, Sara C Bohall, Christopher J Sorensen, and Linda R Van Dillen.
• Program in Physical Therapy, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
• Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2015 Aug 1;96(8):1506-17.

ObjectiveTo determine whether people with low back pain (LBP) who regularly participated in a rotation-related activity displayed more rotation-related impairments than people without LBP who did and did not participate in the activity.DesignSecondary analysis of data from a case-control study.SettingMusculoskeletal analysis laboratory at an academic medical center.ParticipantsA convenience sample of participants with LBP (n=55) who participated in a rotation-related sport, back-healthy controls (n=26) who participated in a rotation-related sport, and back-healthy controls (n=42) who did not participate in a rotation-related sport. Participants were matched based on age, sex, and activity level.InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresThe total number of rotation-related impairments and asymmetrical rotation-related impairments identified during a standardized clinical examination.ResultsCompared with the back-healthy controls who do not play a rotation-related sport group, both the LBP and back-healthy controls who play a rotation-related sport groups displayed significantly more (1) rotation-related impairments (LBP, P<.001; back-healthy controls who play a rotation-related sport, P=.015), (2) asymmetrical rotation-related impairments (LBP, P=.006; back-healthy controls who play a rotation-related sport, P=.020), and (3) rotation-related impairments with trunk movement tests (LBP, P=.002; back-healthy controls who play a rotation-related sport, P<.001). The LBP group had significantly more rotation-related impairments with extremity movement tests than both of the back-healthy groups (back-healthy controls who play a rotation-related sport, P=.011; back-healthy controls who do not play a rotation-related sport, P<.001).ConclusionsThe LBP and back-healthy controls who play a rotation-related sport groups demonstrated a similar number of total rotation-related impairments and asymmetrical rotation-related impairments, and these numbers were greater than those of the back-healthy controls who do not play a rotation-related sport group. Compared with people without LBP, people with LBP displayed more rotation-related impairments when moving an extremity. These findings suggest that impairments associated with extremity movements may be associated with having an LBP condition.Copyright © 2015 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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