Upper back pain in postmenopausal women and associated physical characteristics

Abstract

The physical characteristics of postmenopausal women that are associated with upper back pain are not well-understood. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify the physical characteristics associated with presence and severity of upper back pain in healthy postmenopausal women. Self-reported upper back pain presence (within the previous month) and severity (numerical rating scale) were examined against the physical characteristics: height; weight; body mass index; breast size; breast ptosis; upper back extensor muscle endurance (isometric chest raise test); head, shoulder and upper back posture (photogrammetry); thoracic extension mobility (photogrammetry); bone mineral density (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA)); body composition (DXA); and thoracic kyphosis, thoracic osteoarthritis and thoracic vertebral fracture (all radiography). A multivariable logistic regression model, adjusted for age, was built using physical characteristics with a significant univariate association with upper back pain. Censored Tobit regression, adjusted for age, was used to examine each physical characteristic against upper back pain severity. Postmenopausal women (n = 119) with a mean (SD) age of 61.4 (7.0) years participated in the study. After adjusting for age, the physical characteristics independently associated with upper back pain were: height (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.31–0.79); and upper back extensor muscle endurance (OR: 0.46, 95%CI: 0.28–0.75). This model explained 31% of the variance in upper back pain ( p <0.001). After adjusting for age, being taller and having better upper back extensor muscle endurance were associated with lower odds for upper back pain. After adjusting for age, differences in upper back pain severity were explained by upper back extensor muscle endurance ( p = <0.001) and lean mass ( p = 0.01). Conclusion: As a modifiable physical characteristic of postmenopausal women with upper back pain, upper back extensor muscle endurance is worth considering clinically.

The relationship between breast size and aspects of health and psychological wellbeing in mature-aged women

“…[12][13][14] with no change in cup size is also a 1-point increase in BSS. In a subset of 119 participants, 42 BSSs derived from self-reported bra size data correlated significantly (r = 0.8, p < 0.001) with BSSs derived from investigator measured under and over bust circumferences. 43 Participant characteristics.…”

“…The BSS is an ordinal value (0–18) determined using numerical bra band sizes and alphabetical cup sizes (see Supplementary Material) which is similar in concept to the sizing system for unilateral breast prostheses 41 and has been used in prior research. 26,42 The BSS increments follow a numeric pattern, increasing sequentially relative to bra sizes, providing it with face validity. Using Australian bra sizes, a 14C is equivalent to a 12D or 16B; these each have a BSS of 6.…”

Is Breast Size Related to Prevalent Thoracic Vertebral Fracture? A Cross‐Sectional Study

“…An upper limit cut‐off time of 300 s was imposed. ( 15 ) The isometric chest raise test has high reliability (ICC 0.93 to 0.97) and reproducibility ( r = 0.94 to 0.9.5) when used with women (aged 35 to 49 years) with and without chronic back pain. ( 16 )…”

“…S1) using a system conceptually similar to sizing breast prostheses following unilateral mastectomy ( 14 ) that has been used in prior research. ( 15 ) Using this system, a 1‐cup‐size increase (eg, C to D) on the same band size (under bust, eg, size 12) is equivalent to a 1‐point increase in BSS. Similarly, a one‐band‐size increase (eg, 12 to 14) with no change in cup size is also a 1‐point increase in BSS.…”

“…With their arms unsupported and hands at their temples, participants were asked to raise their chest clear of the bed and hold this position for as long as possible. ( 15 ) A stopwatch was used to measure the time (in seconds) to failure, defined as the point at which the chest touched the bed. Participants who were unable to raise their chest to initiate the test were allocated a time of zero.…”