Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.
PLoS One. 2021 Jan 25;16(1):e0245879. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245879. eCollection 2021.
Low back pain (LBP) and decreased mobility function are common problem among older people. Muscle weakness has been reported as a risk factor for these conditions, and exercise therapy can improve them. We created a novel exercise device that also measures abdominal trunk muscle strength. Malnutrition has also emerged as a major problem among older people. Muscle is a direct key linking decreased mobility function and malnutrition. This study aimed to examine the associations of LBP with not only decreased physical function and muscle weakness but also nutritional status of older people.
We examined the associations of LBP with muscle weakness, decreased mobility function (locomotive syndrome [LS]), and malnutrition among older women. The study included 101 female patients aged 60 years or older scheduled to undergo surgery for degenerative lower extremity diseases. Preoperatively, physical tests including abdominal trunk muscle strength assessment using the device and laboratory tests were conducted. Subjects with LBP (numerical rating scale ≥2; range, 0-4) during the preceding month were allocated to the LBP group (n = 36). Other subjects were allocated to the non-LBP group (n = 65).
The LBP group had lower abdominal trunk and knee extensor muscle strength, lower serum albumin, and hemoglobin levels as blood biomarkers associated with malnutrition risk, and higher LS test scores than the non-LBP group. A multivariate analysis showed that abdominal trunk muscle weakness and advanced LS were associated with LBP. LBP intensity was negatively correlated with abdominal trunk and knee extensor muscle strength and positively correlated with the LS test score. The serum hemoglobin level was negatively correlated with the LS test score.
Abdominal trunk muscle weakness and decreased mobility function were associated with LBP among older women.
下腰痛（LBP）和活动功能下降是老年人常见的问题。肌肉力量下降已被报道为这些疾病的危险因素，运动疗法可以改善这些疾病。我们发明了一种新的运动设备，该设备还可以测量腹部躯干肌肉力量。营养不良也成为老年人的一个主要问题。肌肉是连接活动功能下降和营养不良的直接关键。本研究旨在探讨 LBP 与老年人不仅身体功能下降和肌肉无力，还与营养状况之间的关系。
我们检查了 LBP 与肌肉无力、活动功能下降（移动综合征[LS]）和老年女性营养不良之间的关系。研究纳入了 101 名拟行退行性下肢疾病手术的 60 岁及以上女性患者。术前进行了包括使用该设备评估腹部躯干肌肉力量在内的物理测试和实验室检查。在过去一个月内有 LBP（数字评分量表≥2；范围 0-4）的患者被分配到 LBP 组（n = 36）。其他患者被分配到非 LBP 组（n = 65）。
与非 LBP 组相比，LBP 组的腹部躯干和膝关节伸肌力量较弱，血清白蛋白和血红蛋白水平较低，这些都是与营养不良风险相关的血液生物标志物，LS 测试评分较高。多变量分析显示，腹部躯干肌肉无力和高级 LS 与 LBP 相关。LBP 严重程度与腹部躯干和膝关节伸肌力量呈负相关，与 LS 测试评分呈正相关。血清血红蛋白水平与 LS 测试评分呈负相关。
在老年女性中，腹部躯干肌肉无力和活动功能下降与 LBP 相关。
