ArticlesPhysical activity in daily life in patients with chronic low back pain☆,☆☆,★,★★
Section snippets
Subjects
Thirteen patients (9 men, 4 women) participated in the study. The mean age ± standard deviation (SD) was 45 ± 3 years. All patients had nonspecific LBP with a mean duration of 12 ± 7 years, 77% were employed, and 15% of the employed were on sick leave because of their back pain. Fifteen percent received disability payments because of back pain problems. Inclusion criteria were: nonspecific LBP for at least 3 months and age between 18 and 60 years. Exclusion criteria were lumbar disc herniation
Results
The test result of the doubly labeled water technique of 1 patient showed an inconsistency between the first and the second week and was therefore excluded from further analysis according to the criteria presented in the Method section.
Discussion
We used the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test, a nonparametric statistical test, for statistical analysis, because the data were clearly skewed. They did not satisfy the gaussian distribution assumptions, which is likely the result of the criteria and procedure of patient selection, combined with the small number of patients. Bivariate correlations between the doubly labeled water technique and the accelerometer were also performed by a nonparametric statistical test (Spearman's rank-order
Conclusion
The triaxial accelerometer is a valid instrument for measuring daily activity in patients with chronic LBP. The mean level of physical activity did not differ in chronic LBP patients when compared with a healthy population, and the presence of disuse in chronic LBP was not confirmed. The discrepancy between measured physical activity and patient reports gives emphasis to the need to use an objective measurement if physiologic factors are of interest.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Peter Heuts and Kees Pons for their contributions to the study.
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Supported by the Foundation De Drie Lichten in the Netherlands, the Council for Medical and Health Research of the Netherlands (grant no. 904-65-090), and Zorgonderzoek Nederland (grant no. 96-06-006).
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No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.
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Reprint requests to Jeanine A. Verbunt, MSc, MD, Institute for Rehabilitation Research, PO Box 192, 6430 AD Hoensbroek, The Netherlands, e-mail: [email protected].
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