Daily Pain Severity but Not Vertebral Fractures Is Associated With Lower Physical Activity in Postmenopausal Women With Back Pain

Montgomery, Gallin; Tobias, Jon H; Paskins, Zoe; Khera, Tarnjit K; Huggins, Cameron J; Allison, Sarah J; Abasolo, Daniel; Clark, Emma M; Ireland, Alex

Abstract

Back pain lifetime incidence is 60-70%, whilst 12-20% of older women have vertebral fractures (VFs), often with back pain. We aimed to provide objective evidence, currently lacking, regarding whether back pain and VFs affect physical activity (PA).

We recruited 69 women with recent back pain (age 74.5±5.4y). Low (0.5<g<1.0), medium (1.0≤g<1.5) and high-impact (g≥1.5) PA and walking time were measured (100Hz for 7-days, hip-worn accelerometer). Linear mixed-effects models assessed associations between self-reported pain and PA, and group differences (VFs from spine radiographs/no-VF) in PA.

Higher daily pain was associated with reduced low (β=-0.12, 95%CI -0.22 to -0.03, p=0.013) and medium-impact PA (β=-0.11, -0.21 to -0.01, p=0.041), but not high-impact PA or walking time (p>0.11). VFs were not associated with PA (all p>0.2).

Higher daily pain levels but not VFs were associated with reduced low and medium-impact PA, which could increase sarcopenia and falls risk in older women with back pain.

Citation

Montgomery, G., Tobias, J. H., Paskins, Z., Khera, T. K., Huggins, C. J., Allison, S. J., Abasolo, D., Clark, E. M., & Ireland, A. (2024). Daily Pain Severity but Not Vertebral Fractures Is Associated With Lower Physical Activity in Postmenopausal Women With Back Pain. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2023-0035

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 13, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Mar 23, 2024
• Publication Date: Mar 23, 2024
• Deposit Date: Dec 20, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 10, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Aging and Physical Activity
• Print ISSN: 1063-8652
• Electronic ISSN: 1543-267X
• Publisher: Human Kinetics
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 1-10
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2023-0035
• Keywords: Geriatrics and Gerontology, Gerontology, Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/673760