Effect of Chronic Low Back Pain on Balance and Functional Mobility in Women above 40 Years

Abstract

Objectives: To find the number of individuals with disturbed balance and impaired functional mobility, associated with chronic low back pain.

Methodology: It was a cross sectional observational study of seventy female patients with age 40 years or older being evaluated for disturbed balance and impaired functional mobility due to chronic low back pain. Data was collected from Bakhtawar Amin Memorial Trust Hospital from May 2019 to November 2019. The subjects were assessed through Berg Balance Scale for their disturbed balance and timed up and go test for their functional mobility. The data collected was statistically analyzed using SPSS 21 and displayed in forms of appropriate graphs in terms of percentages.

Results: Only one patient (1.4%) was scored lowest (0-20), 43 patients (61.4%) had moderate score (21-40) and 26 patients (37.1%) had achieved maximum scores (41-56) on Berg Balance scale. The score for functional mobility on timed up and go test was normal (10 seconds or less) for 9 patients (12.9%), 34 patients (48.6%) had moderate impaired mobility and 27 patients (38.6%) had greater impairment in mobility.

Conclusion: A high Prevalence of low back pain has been seen in the elderly women, which in turn effects the balance and functional mobility. These two being the major factors for independence, thus affecting the mobility. Age is markedly associated with the scoring on berg balance scale.

Key words: Balance, Chronic low back pain (CLBP), Functional mobility.