Correlation between Postural Stabilty and Functional Disabilty in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between static and dynamic postural stability and functional
disability associated with chronic low back pain (CLBP).
Methods: A total of 80 patients (age 44.64 ± 1.27 years) were recruited in this cross sectional study
using convenience sampling. The One Leg Stand Test (OLST) was used to assess static balance with
eyes open and eyes closed; Y Balance Test- Lower Quarter (YBT-LQ) was used to assess dynamic
balance in the anterior, posterolateral and posteromedial directions; and functional disability was
assessed using modified Oswestry Disability Index (mODI). Karl Pearson correlation coefficient was
used to estimate the relationship between the variables.
Results and Conclusion: mODI was negatively correlated to OLST with eyes closed (r= -0.721); YBTLQ
composite score (r= -0.865); and reach distances in the posterolateral (r= -0.815) and posteromedial
(r= -0.832) directions suggesting that control of postural stability was reduced with an increase in
disability in patients with CLBP.