Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 89, Issue 8 , Pages 1542-1549, August 2008

Classifying Subgroups of Chronic Low Back Pain Patients Based on Lifting Patterns

Presented to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, August 28–September 3, 2006, New York, NY; and at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Statistical Signal Processing Workshop, August 26–28, 2007, Madison, WI.

  • Jill C. Slaboda, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Pain Evaluation and Treatment Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests to Jill C. Slaboda, PhD, Temple University, 40 Pearson Hall, 1800 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19122
    • ,
  • J. Robert Boston, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Pain Evaluation and Treatment Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
    • ,
  • Thomas E. Rudy, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Pain Evaluation and Treatment Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
    • ,
  • Susan J. Lieber, MS, OTR/L

      Affiliations

    • Pain Evaluation and Treatment Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.

Abstract 

Slaboda JC, Boston JR, Rudy TE, Lieber SJ. Classifying subgroups of chronic low back pain patients based on lifting patterns.

Objective

To compare self-reported measures of chronic lower back pain (CLBP) patients who were assigned to 2 subgroups based on their lifting patterns performed during a repetitive lifting task.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Research laboratory

Participants

CLBP subjects (n=81) and pain-free controls (n=53).

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Measures of lifting patterns and self-reported disability, pain, and psychosocial aspects.

Results

Two CLBP subgroups were found: 1 group that lifts similarly to control subjects (n=35) and 1 group that lifts very differently from controls (n=46). The CLBP group that lifted differently than controls reported higher pain intensity (P=.005), higher pain severity (P=.025), and lower self-efficacy (P=.013) than the CLBP group that lifted similarly to controls.

Conclusions

A classification system based on lifting patterns identified 2 CLBP subgroups that were significantly different on lifting and self-reported measures, indicating the importance of physical functioning measures in classification systems.

Key Words: Lifting, Low back pain, Rehabilitation

List of Abbreviations: ANOVA, analysis of variance, CLBP, chronic low back pain, MANOVA, multivariate analysis of variance, MEDICS, Medical Evaluation and Diagnostic Information Coding System, MPI, West Haven–Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory, ODI, Oswestry Disability Index

 

 Supported by the National Institutes of Health (grant nos. 1R01 AR38698, 1R01 AG18299) and the University of Pittsburgh (Provost Development Fund).No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.

PII: S0003-9993(08)00351-1

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2008.01.016

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 89, Issue 8 , Pages 1542-1549, August 2008

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution