988368

Mendeley  

Zotero  

Teymouri S M, Dadarkhah A, Rezasoltani Z, Tabatabaee S M, Kazemi-Galougahi M H. Sagittal Alignment, Central Sensitization, and Psychosocial Factors in Military Personnel with Chronic Low Back Pain. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal 2025; 23 (4) :441-450
URL: http://irj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-2573-fa.html

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the sagittal alignment and range of motion (ROM) of the spine in military personnel with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) and asymptomatic individuals and to determine the relationships between spinal parameters and central sensitization, pain, disability, and psychosocial factors.
Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 104 male military personnel (49 with CNLBP). The participants completed the spinal examination using the spinal mouse. Central sensitization inventory (CSI), pain intensity (visual analog scale [VAS]), lumbar pressure pain threshold (PPT), psychosocial factors (Örebro musculoskeletal pain screening questionnaire [ÖMPSQ]), and disability (Oswestry disability index [ODI]) were assessed.
Results: Compared with controls, participants with CNLBP showed smaller segmental angles during forward flexion for lumbar (MD=10.9°, P<0.001), inclination (MD=20.3°, P<0.001), and sacral/hip angles (MD=11.4°, P<0.001). The spinal ROM was reduced across all movement transitions in CNLBP with moderate to strong effect sizes. In addition to these biomechanical changes, participants with CNLBP exhibited substantially lower PPT at the lumbar region (MD=–23.38, P<0.001) and higher CSI scores (MD=13.39, P<0.001). Correlation analyses revealed significant negative correlations between the VAS score and the lumbar angle in forward flexion and upright flexion (r=-0.44 and -0.40, P<0.001, respectively). The CSI correlated strongly with ÖMPSQ (r=0.61, P<0.001), and moderately with the ODI score (r=0.49, P<0.001), and showed correlations with the VAS and lumbar region PPT (r=0.31, P<0.05 and -0.38, P<0.001, respectively). 
Discussion: CNLBP in military personnel is characterized by altered spinal biomechanics and neuro-psychosocial alterations. These findings suggest tailored interventions that address both mechanical impairments and neuro-psychosocial contributors.