Abstract

Background. Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is common, and its development can vary because of anatomical or demographic factors such as sex and age. The lumbar spine’s lordosis, or internal curvature, is also important to spinal biomechanics. Effective management of CLBP necessitates an understanding of how demographic and clinical factors including sex, age, body mass index (BMI), pain level, and lower limb muscular strength impact lumbar lordosis.

Aim. The current study sought to assess the relationship between demographic and clinical characteristics of patients suffering from CLBP with lumbar lordosis.

Materials and methods. A cross-sectional retrospective study was performed at Alia State Hospital, Hebron, Palestine. Eighty-two patients with CLBP were assessed (mean age 54.08 ± 5.83 years; BMI 29.64 ± 3.56 kg/m²). Information on patient’s demographics, pain score by the numerical pain rating scale, lower limb muscular strength using a hand-held dynamometer, and lumbar lordosis angle (LLA), recorded with flexible rulers in standing position, was extracted from the patients’ files.

Results. Height was significantly negatively correlated to LLA (r = −0.323, p = 0.012). A significantly greater LLA in females compared to males (p < 0.01) was seen. Decreased LLA was found to be significantly associated with lower limb muscular strength, and especially with ankle dorsiflexor (r = −0.434, p = 0.001) and plantar flexor (r = −0.380, p = 0.003) muscles. LLA did not correlate with age, weight or BMI.

Conclusion. In patients with CLBP, gender, height, and lower limb muscle strength are factors that affect the degree of lordosis in the lumbar spine, while age, weight, and BMI are not. These observations indicate the need to pay attention to lumbar lordosis when evaluating CLBP and when planning physiotherapy treatment protocols.

Key words

spinal curvature, demographic, low back pain, rehabilitation