The Neural Basis of Lumbosacral Proprioceptive Impairment in Recurrent Low Back Pain

Catholic University (KU) of Leuven

Status: Completed

Conditions: Low Back Pain

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01540617

2012_SBrumagne_MRIproprio

Details and patient eligibility

About

Low back pain (LBP) is a well known health problem in Western society that is significantly responsible for socio-economic problems like absenteeism and disability. The lifetime prevalence of LBP is 60-80% and approximately 85% of this LBP has a "non-specific" character whereby the underlying causes and risk factors cannot be demonstrated. While many people recover within a month, most individuals will have recurrence within a year with more severe symptoms. This might be due to insufficient knowledge of the underlying mechanisms. Impaired proprioception, the ability to discern body/limb positions and movements, may cause and maintain LBP shown by an altered postural control strategy. Specifically, patients with LBP rely more on proprioceptive signals from the ankles due to less reliable proprioceptive input of proximal segments. Moreover, they show a decreased variability in postural control and less postural robustness, while variability is a prerequisite for optimal functioning of biological systems. However, further clarification of the neural correlates is necessary. Deficits in proprioception, as found in a subgroup of patient with LBP, are associated with a decreased ability of the brain to process proprioceptive inputs.

The aim of this project is to clarify the central changes in individuals with recurrent non-specific low back pain and healthy controls. To evaluate these central changes MRI techniques (3DTFE, DTI and RS-fMRI) will be used. In addition, the association between central changes and postural control tasks will be evaluated.

Enrollment: 36 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 50 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria persons with low back pain:

• Age: 20-50 year
• At least 6 months of low back pain with/without referred pain in buttock/thigh
• At least 3 episodes of disabling low back pain
• At least a score of 14% on the Oswestry Disability Index
• Willingness to sign the informed consent
• Met the MRI related requirements

Inclusion Criteria healthy persons:

• Age: 20-50 year
• No history of low back pain
• A score of 0% on the Oswestry Disability Index
• Willingness to sign the informed consent
• Met the MRI related requirements

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of major trauma and/or major orthopedic surgery of the spine, the pelvis or the lower quadrant
• One of the following conditions: Parkinson, MS, Stroke with sequels....
• Radicular symptoms
• Not Dutch-speaking
• Strong opioids
• Neck pain
• Ankle problems
• Smoking

Trial design

36 participants in 2 patient groups

Persons with low back pain

Healthy persons