Comparison of gait parameters of individuals with low back pain and their age-sex matched apparently healthy controls

Low back pain is reported widely but only a few studies have been conducted on the effects of low back pain on gait characteristics. This study was therefore aimed at determining gait parameters of individuals with low back pain and comparing them with that of their age and sex matched apparently healthy controls. This is a case control study in which 70 purposively selected participants, comprising thirty-five individuals with low back pain, and 35 apparently healthy controls were involved. They were recruited until all participants completed the study. Ethical approval was obtained from Health Research and Ethics committee, Institute of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Each informed participant was then educated on the procedure for data collection, and data was subsequently collected. Cadence and walking speed were then assessed using 6-metre walk test. Cadence calculated as number of steps per minute, and walking speed as distance covered in one minute. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics of Pearson`s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r), and independent t-test. Significance was set at 0.05 α- level. Participants comprised 19 females and 16 males per group. Participant’s average age, height and weight were 49.714±13.868years, 1.629±0.741meters and 73.100±13.260kilograms respectively. There was no significant difference in anthropometric variables of participants with low back pain and their age and sex matched apparently healthy controls (p>0.05). There was no significant difference in gait parameters of male and female participants (p>0.05). There was significant difference in walking speed of participants in low back pain and apparently healthy control groups (p>0.05); with higher average value (0.830±0.145m/s) observed in the apparently healthy control group. There was no significant relationship between anthropometric variables and gait parameters (p>0.05) except height which was inversely related to walking speed among apparently healthy controls (p<0.05). It was concluded that the walking speed of participants with low back pain was lower than that of their apparently healthy controls. It was therefore recommended that focus of physiotherapy management of low back pain should include more emphasis on gait.