Gender Differences in Musculoskeletal Assessment Methods in Patients With Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pain

Gender Differences in Musculoskeletal Assessment Methods in Patients With Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pain

This study is an observational test-retest study designed to investigate the effect of gender on core strength, balance, spinal mobility, and hamstring flexibility in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (NS-LBP).

Low back pain (LBP) is the primary contributor to years of disability. Individual features (age, physical fitness), psychosocial factors (stress, anxiety, and depression), and occupational factors (hard physical work, bending and twisting motions, and vibration) have all been linked to the development of LBP, which is thought to have a complex etiology.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Both sexes will be involved.
• Patients suffer from chronic NS-LBP for more than 3 months.
• Patients' age ranges from 18 to 40 years, and body mass index ranges from 18 to 25 kg/m2.
• Patients with sufficient cognitive abilities that enable them to understand and follow instructions.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of spinal trauma or fractures.
• Osteoporotic patients.
• Patients using analgesics during the last 3 months.
• Pregnant or lactating females.
• Neurological musculoskeletal diseases that affect the lower back (eg, spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, disc injuries).
• Previous spinal surgery.
• Posture deformities.
• Cauda equina symptoms related to the spine, including changes in bowel and bladder control.
• Signs of severe pathology (eg, malignancy, inflammatory disorders).
• Patients with severe psychiatric disorders.