Back Stiffness Is Associated with Physical Health and Low Back Pain-Related Disability in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

Objective: Back stiffness is a common complaint among older adults with low back pain. Nonetheless, self-reported back stiffness has received little exploration in this patient population. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of self-reported low back stiffness with physical health and low back pain-related disability among older adults with low back pain.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis.

Subjects: Data included in this study were obtained from the Retirement Community Back Pain Study, a population-based survey of older adults.

Methods: Participants completed the Medical Outcomes Survey Short-Form 36 and the modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Questionnaire. Physical health, derived from the Short Form-36, was represented by the physical component summary score. Back stiffness was rated on a 0-10 scale, where 0 indicated "no back stiffness."

Results: Covariates-that is, intensity and duration of low back pain, age, sex, weight, education level, and comorbidities-explained 27% of the variance in physical health ( P < 0.0001) and 38% of the variance in low back pain-related disability ( P = 0.0002). Self-reported stiffness explained an additional 6% of the variance in physical health ( P < 0.0001) and 10% of the variance in low back pain-related disability ( P < 0.0001).

Conclusions: Back stiffness in older, community-dwelling adults with low back pain may help explain physical health and low back pain-related disability, above and beyond demographics and pain. Future longitudinal research is needed to evaluate low back stiffness as a predictor of physical health and disability. Ultimately, assessment and treatment of back stiffness in older adults with low back pain may improve patient outcomes.

Keywords: Arthritis; Geriatric; Spine.