Abiola O. Ogundele (MSc.PT), Micheal O. Egwu (PhD.PT), Chidozie E. Mbada(PhD.PT).

ABSTRACT

Purpose : This study assessed and compared body composition (Percent Body Fat (PBF), Lean Body Mass (LBM) and Percent Body Water (PBW)) in patients with Low Back Pain (LBP) and their age, sex and somatotype-matched healthy controls and also determined the relationship between intensity/duration of pain and each of PBF, LBM and PBW among the patient population.

Relevance: Low Back Pain is a major public health problem. Patients with LBP often report intolenrance for physical activities. Studies have shown that pain leads to depression and reduced functional abilities in patients with LBP but its influence on body composition is not fully understood.

Methods: Two Hundred and two subjects comprising 101 patients (mean age 48.1 + 15years) and 101 healthy controls (mean age 47.8 + 15.18years) were purposively recruited into the study. Data were obtained on anthropometric (weight, height, hip and waist circumferences), body composition (PBF, LBM and PBW) and socio-demographic variables (age, sex and occupation) respectively.  Percieved somatotype scale and wrist girth measure were used for somatotype matching of subjects. Visual Analogue Scale was used to rate pain intensity. Duration of pain was assessed in months as acute (< 3months) and chronic (> 3 months) pain.

Analysis: Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Alpha level was set at p<0.05.

Results: The patients group had significantly higher Body Mass Index (BMI) than the controls (p = 0.019). However, there was no significant difference in body composition measures of PBF (p= 0.24), LBM (p = 0.39) and PBW (p = 0.68). Pain intensity was significantly and directly correlated with PBF (r = 0.287, p = 0.004) and inversely correlated with LBM (r = - 0.280, p = 0.005) and PBW (r = - 0.256, p = 0.001) respectively among the patients group.

Conclusion: Persons with LBP have significantly higher BMI than their age, sex and somatotype-matched controls. High pain intensity was directly correlated with high PBF among patients with LBP.

Implication: From this study, it is recommended that physical therapy management of LBP should not only focus on pain reduction but should include fat reduction program.

Keywords: Low Back Pain, Body Composition, Somatotype.

Funding: This study was unfunded.