Article

This study determined whether mobility and functional pain were
different among older men and women with chronic low-back pain and varying body
mass index levels. DESIGN: This was a comparative, descriptive study of older
adults with obesity with low-back pain (N = 55; 60-85 yrs). The participants were
stratified on the basis of body mass index: overweight (25-29.9 kg/m), obese
(30-34.9 kg/m), and severely obese (35 kg/m). The participants completed a
functional test battery (walking endurance, chair rise, stair climb, 7-day
activity monitoring, and gait parameters) and pain ratings with activity
("functional pain"). RESULTS: The functional pain scores during walking and stair
climb were highest in the severely obese group compared with the overweight group
(P < 0.05), but the functional test scores were not found to be significantly
different by body mass index. Gait base of support was 36% greater and
single/double support times were 3.1%-6.1% greater in the severely obese group
compared with the overweight group (P < 0.05). The women had slower chair rise
and stair climb times and had slower walking velocity than did the men. Daily
step numbers were lowest in the severely obese group compared with the obese and
overweight groups (2971 vs. 3511 and 4421 steps per day; P < 0.05) but were not
different by sex. Normalized lumbar extensor, abdominal curl, and leg press
strength values were lowest in the severely obese group, and the women had
18%-34% lower strength values than did the men for all three exercises (P <
0.05). Lumbar strength was associated with stair climb, chair rise, and walking
endurance times. Body mass index was an independent predictor of walking
endurance time but not of steps taken per day. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the
persons with obesity reported higher functional pain values during walking and
stair climb and had lower lumbar strength compared with the overweight
participants. Rehabilitation strategies that include lumbar extensor
strengthening may help improve functional mobility and walking duration, both of
which can help with weight management in older adults with obesity with chronic
low-back pain.

Langue : ANGLAIS