Lumbar joint position sense measurement of patients with low back pain

Abstract

Low back pain (LBP) is a common condition experienced by adults of all ages. Epidemiological studies indicate that 50–80% of individuals experience LBP at least once during their lifetime (1). Non-specific LBP (NLBP), the most prevalent form of LBP, does not have a specific identifiable pathological cause (2). The consequences of NLBP go beyond pain and limited movement. NLBP can also affect the proprioception of the lumbar spine, and the degeneration of proprioception can aggravate the symptoms of the patients (3). The main inducing factors of NLBP are decreased lumbar stability and muscle strength, and poor spinal stability and posture control is an important pathological mechanism of recurrent symptoms in patients with NLBP (4, 5). Patients with NLBP have reduced lumbosacral tactile and proprioceptive acuity, and sensory and motor deficits further affect the postural cognitive interaction in patients with NLBP, resulting in postural control defects (6).

Keywords

• lumbar position sense
• low back pain
• measurement instrument
• measurement method
• reliability research