Foot Pressure Asymmetry in Patients with Mechanical Low Back Pain

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common complaint in many industrial countries and is the most frequent cause of activity limitation in young people.Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate foot pressure asymmetry in patients with mechanical LBP and to detect its relationship to pain severity and functional abilities.Subjects: Thirty six subjects of both genders (age range 20-41 years old) included in the study, 18 patients suffering from mechanical LBP for at least three months served as a study group and 18 healthy matched individuals served as a control group.Methods: Owestry LBP disability questionnaire and Numeric pain intensity scale (NPIS) were used to determine measure the level of disability and pain intensity respectively, in addition to an E-MED device to measure the pressure distribution under the plantar surface of the foot.Results: Foot pressure distribution in both static and dynamic situations was asymmetrical in the study group compared to that of the control group (p=0.005 and 0.02 respectively). There was non- significant correlation between the level of disability and the degree of pain with foot pressure in the study group.Conclusion: Patients with mechanical LBP exhibit more pressure on one foot compared to normal subjects in both static and dynamic situations regardless the disability level or the degree of pain.