Associated Risk Factors with Low Back Pain in White-Collar Workers—A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the study was to compare the pressure pain threshold (PPT) of soft tissue and the curvatures of the spine in a sitting position and to estimate associated physical risk factors with low back pain (LBP) in young adults. Subjects: White-collar workers (n= 139), both women (n = 51) and men (n = 88) were separated into a control group (n = 82) and a low-intensity LBP (NRS < 3) (n = 57). Methods: The PPTs were tested utilizing the Wagner algometer. The curvatures of the spine were measured employing the photogrammetric method. In the logistic regression model, the odds ratio (OR) was estimated with ±95% confidence interval (CI) indicating the probability of the reported LBP. Results: The PPTs of soft tissue (OR = 1.1; CI = 1.02–1.19; p < 0.05) and the angle of the thoracolumbar spine in the everyday, habitual sitting position (OR = 1.19; CI = 1.05–1.34; p < 0.05) were associated with low-intensity LBP in female subjects. Additionally, the low intensity LBP were associated with the angles of the torso (OR = 1.14; CI = 1.01–1.29; p < 0.05) and the lumbosacral spine in the corrected sitting position (OR = 1.06; CI = 0.98–1.15; p > 0.05) and BMI (OR = 1.56; CI = 0.84–2.90; p > 0.05) in male subjects. Conclusion: Individual risk factors were associated with the low-intensity LBP only in females utilizing the PPT and the thoracolumbar angle in the habitual sitting position study factors. Men from the LBP group did not effectively correct the lumbosacral angle. Therefore, re-educated, self-corrected posture with specific postural training would be expected to improve proprioception in postural control capacity and result in decreasing pain.

Current Concept of Quantitative Sensory Testing and Pressure Pain Threshold in Neck/Shoulder and Low Back Pain

“…Compared with healthy controls, patients experiencing chronic pain exhibit a significantly lower PPT [ 33 , 34 , 41 , 53 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 64 , 75 , 88 , 90 , 91 , 93 , 96 , 99 , 102 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 109 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 ]. The measurements of several PPT values were collected and critically compared for different body areas.…”

“…Forty-eight studies that measured PPT in the low back area in patients with LBP and/or healthy volunteers are listed in Table 3 . The subjects of the studies were patients with LBP, healthy volunteers, workers, and patients with myofascial pain syndrome [ 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 , 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 ]. These articles revealed the normative values of PPT in the lower back area.…”

“…The areas examined were the back, lumbar region, 1–3 cm lateral of the spinous processes, paravertebral muscle, paraspinal muscle, dorsal longissimus, erector spinae muscle, suprainterspinous ligaments, lumbar zygapophyseal joints, and gluteus maximus/medius. The common measurement devices were pressure algometers from Somedic AB and Wagner Instruments, and the measurement units used were mainly kPa, kgf, N/cm 2 , and kg/cm 2 [ 75 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 81 , 83 , 86 , 89 , 92 , 93 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 100 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 ]. The normative value from the data ranged from 299 to 628 kPa at the back area [ 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 ].…”

“…Twenty-four articles showed comparisons of the healthy control data with the data of the patients with LBP. The normative values and data ranged from 314 to 560 kPa and 2.2 to 13.1 kg/cm 2 at the low back area [ 75 , 88 , 90 , 91 , 93 , 96 , 99 , 102 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 109 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 ]. The abnormal PPT values in the patients with LBP were 322–451 kPa and 2.6–8.3 kg/cm 2 at the low back muscle.…”

Differences and Correlations of Anxiety, Sleep Quality, and Pressure-Pain Threshold between Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain and Asymptomatic People

“…Muscle pressure-pain threshold (PPT) refers to the pressure threshold at which a subject experiences pain [ 24 ]. Peripheral or central sensitization occurs with changes in pain intensity [ 25 ]. Moderate pain may cause changes in PPT and adaptations of the musculoskeletal system [ 26 , 27 ].…”