Hip Symptoms, Physical Performance and Health Status in Older Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Preliminary Investigation

Publication date: Available online 27 October 2017
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): Gregory E. Hicks, J. Megan Sions, Teonette O. Velasco
ObjectiveThe purposes of this study were to determine: a) if there are differences in the prevalence of clinical hip symptoms between older adults with and without CLBP; and b) whether co-existing hip symptoms are associated with worse physical performance and poorer health-related quality of life (HRQOL).DesignCase-control studySettingIndividuals participated in a standardized evaluation in a clinical laboratory.Patient SampleClinical hip symptoms, which are proposed predictors of radiographic hip osteoarthritis according to American College of Rheumatology guidelines, were evaluated in a volunteer sample of 54 community-dwelling older adults, aged 60-85, with CLBP and 54 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.InterventionNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresPhysical performance was measured by the repeated chair rise test and stair climbing test. HRQOL was measured by the Short Form-36 Health Survey.ResultsHip joint pain, morning stiffness and pain with hip internal rotation were more common among older adults with CLBP (p<.05). Participants with CLBP and co-existing hip symptoms had worse physical performance than individuals without CLBP or hip symptoms (p<.0001). Additionally, the presence of co-existing hip symptoms was associated with worse HRQOL, particularly in the domains of social functioning, mental health and role limitations due to emotional problems as measured by the SF-36 (p<.01).ConclusionsGiven our limited understanding of CLBP among older adults, there is a definitive need to systematically explore co-existing pain conditions that may contribute to worse outcomes. Based on these data, future longitudinal studies should explore whether co-existing hip symptoms are associated with a worse prognosis in older adults with CLBP.



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