Study DesignA cross-sectional study.PurposeTo clarify the prevalence of chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP) and its associated factors among middle-aged and elderly Japanese individuals using data from a musculoskeletal examination conducted in general Japanese populations.Overview of LiteratureMost studies evaluating low back pain-associated factors have been conducted in Western countries, but they have not always evaluated CNSLBP.MethodsWe obtained data on 213 subjects aged >50 years who responded to a survey regarding age, gender, body mass index, lifestyle-related diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia), glucocorticoid use, smoking and alcohol-drinking habits, labor intensity, and chronic low back pain (CLBP) and underwent screening for lumbar spinal stenosis, evaluation for quality of life (QOL), and evaluation for specific spinal pathology via thoracolumbar spine X-rays. We investigated the prevalence of CNSLBP and association between CNSLBP and measured variables.ResultsThe prevalence of CNSLBP and chronic specific low back pain (CSLBP) was 15.4% and 9.3%, respectively. Among the subjects with CLBP, 62.2% had CNSLBP. In age-adjusted logistic models, smoking habits (p=0.049, odds ratio [OR]=2.594), low back pain (p<0.001, OR=0.974), lumbar function (p=0.001, OR=0.967), and social function (p=0.023, OR=0.976) in the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ) were significantly associated with CNSLBP, whereas EQ-5D utility score (p=0.024, OR=0.068), low back pain (p=0.007, OR=0.981), lumbar function (p=0.001, OR=0.963), walking ability (p=0.001, OR=0.968), and social function (p=0.002, OR=0.966) in JOABPEQ were significantly associated with CSLBP.ConclusionsCNSLBP among middle-aged and elderly individuals was associated with smoking habits and decreased QOL; however, CSLBP was considered to be more multilaterally associated decreased QOL.

No abstract

BackgroundNeck and shoulder pain, back pain and low back pain are common symptoms in Japanese subjects, and it is important to elucidate the pathology and associated factors of these pains due to their frequency and impact on the quality of life (QOL) and activities of daily living (ADL). The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether body composition is associated with these pains.MethodsWe collected the data of 273 Japanese subjects regarding the presence and the visual analogue scale (VAS) of neck and shoulder pain, back pain, low back pain and body composition parameters calculated using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) technology. Furthermore, we investigated the association between these pains and the body composition using statistical methods.ResultsAccording to a multivariate analysis adjusted for age and gender, lower total body water ratio was significantly associated with the presence of neck and shoulder pain at present (P < 0.05); additionally, total body muscle mass (standardized β = −0.26, 95 % CI, −0.17 - -0.008, P < 0.05), total body water (standardized β = −0.27, 95 % CI, −0.23 - -0.04, P < 0.01), appendicular muscle mass (standardized β = −0.29, 95 % CI, −0.36 - -0.04, P < 0.05), and the appendicular muscle mass index (AMI) (standardized β = −0.24, 95 % CI, −1.18 - -0.20, P <0.01) were negatively correlated with the VAS of neck and shoulder pain, whereas no body composition parameters were significantly associated with back pain, low back pain at present and any type of chronic pain.ConclusionsThe present study demonstrated that some body composition parameters regarding body water and body muscle were associated or correlated with the presence or intensity of neck and shoulder pain.

No abstract

No abstract