Classifying subgroups of chronic low back pain patients based on lifting patterns.

Abstract

To compare self-reported measures of chronic lower back pain (CLBP) patients who were assigned to 2 subgroups based on their lifting patterns performed during a repetitive lifting task. Cross-sectional study. Research laboratory CLBP subjects (n=81) and pain-free controls (n=53). Not applicable. Measures of lifting patterns and self-reported disability, pain, and psychosocial aspects. Two CLBP subgroups were found: 1 group that lifts similarly to control subjects (n=35) and 1 group that lifts very differently from controls (n=46). The CLBP group that lifted differently than controls reported higher pain intensity (P=.005), higher pain severity (P=.025), and lower self-efficacy (P=.013) than the CLBP group that lifted similarly to controls. A classification system based on lifting patterns identified 2 CLBP subgroups that were significantly different on lifting and self-reported measures, indicating the importance of physical functioning measures in classification systems.