Measuring objective physical activity in people with chronic low back pain using accelerometers: a scoping review

Purpose

Accelerometers can be used to objectively measure physical activity. They could be offered to people with chronic low back pain (CLBP) who are encouraged to maintain an active lifestyle. The aim of this study was to examine the use of accelerometers in studies of people with CLBP and to synthesize the main results regarding the measurement of objective physical activity.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O'Malley's framework. Relevant studies were collected from 4 electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, CINHAL, Web of Science) between January 2000 and July 2023. Two reviewers independently screened all studies and extracted data.

Results

40 publications out of 810 citations were included for analysis. The use of accelerometers in people with CLBP differed across studies; the duration of measurement, physical activity outcomes and models varied, and several limitations of accelerometry were reported. The main results of objective physical activity measures varied and were sometimes contradictory. Thus, they question the validity of measurement methods and provide the opportunity to discuss the objective physical activity of people with CLBP.

Conclusions

Accelerometers have the potential to monitor physical performance in people with CLBP; however, important technical limitations must be overcome.

Occupational Physical Activity Was Associated With Disability Levels at 6-Month Follow-Up of Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Physical activity plays an important role in the prognosis of chronic low back pain (LBP); however, whether physical activity predicts pain intensity and disability remains unknown. This study investigated whether objective and subjective physical activity measures predict pain intensity and disability levels 6 months later in patients with chronic LBP.

METHODS

Patients with chronic LBP seeking care at 2 outpatient physiotherapy clinics were recruited. At baseline assessment, we collected anthropometric/sociodemographic data, duration of symptoms, pain intensity, disability, and physical activity (accelerometer and questionnaire). After 6 months, we reassessed pain and disability. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to investigate the association of physical activity measures with pain and disability at follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 179 patients with chronic LBP were included. High occupational physical activity at baseline predicted disability at 6-month follow-up (B = 1.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.21 to 2.21) after controlling for age and baseline disability, meaning that for every 1-point increase in occupational physical activity, disability increased on average by 1.22 point. The remaining physical activity measures showed no association with pain intensity or disability at follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Higher perceived levels of occupational physical activity predicted higher disability levels at 6-month follow-up in patients with chronic LBP.

The Association Between Leisure-time Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Low Back Pain: A Cross-sectional Analysis in Primary Care Settings

STUDY DESIGN

Observational cross-sectional.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and low back pain (LBP) in adults from primary care settings, and to explore how sedentary behavior influences this association.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

LTPA is inversely associated with LBP. However, there is no study investigating this association in primary care settings from a middle-income country. Moreover, the influence of sedentary behavior in this association is unknown.

METHODS

Cross-sectional analysis of an ongoing longitudinal study with adults from Bauru, Brazil (n = 557). Data on physical activity, sedentary behavior (sitting time), LBP, body mass index (BMI), and chronic diseases were assessed by face-to-face interviews, physical evaluation, and medical records. Binary logistic regression was used to test the association of LTPA with the presence of LBP. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and health variables were used as covariables in the multivariable models.

RESULTS

The fully adjusted model showed that active participants were 33% less likely to have LBP when compared with those insufficiently active (odds ratios [OR]: 0.67 [95% CI: 0.46-0.98]). A significant association was found for active participants who spent less than 3 h/day sitting (OR: 0.45 [95% CI: 0.23-0.89]) but not for those who spent 3 h/day or more in sedentary activities (OR: 0.78 [95% CI: 0.48-1.27]). An inverse association of LTPA with LBP was observed in obese participants (OR = 0.49 [95% CI: 0.25-0.94]), but not in those with normal BMI and overweight.

CONCLUSION

LTPA was inversely associated with the prevalence of LBP in adults from primary care. This association was influenced by sedentary behavior and BMI.Level of Evidence: 4.

An Exploratory Analysis of Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and Emotional Functioning in Patients With Chronic Pain

BACKGROUND

Physical activity (PA) can benefit pain and emotional functioning for patients with chronic pain. However, associations between different intensities of PA (moderate-to-vigorous PA, light PA, and sedentary behavior), pain, and emotional functioning are not well understood in patients with chronic pain.

OBJECTIVE

The goals of this study were to (1) describe PA patterns of adult patients with chronic pain using accelerometers and (2) explore preliminary associations between PA intensities, pain, and emotional functioning.

METHODS

Thirteen patients with chronic pain completed self-report measures of pain, cognitive and emotional reactions to pain, depression and anxiety, and wore ActiGraph accelerometers for 1 week before participating in a pilot mind-body PA intervention.

RESULTS

Sedentary behavior and light activity were strongly inversely correlated (r = -0.93, P < 0.01). Greater sedentary behavior was associated with lower pain during activity (r = -0.55, P = 0.05), and greater light activity was correlated with higher pain during activity (r = 0.63, P = 0.02) and pain at rest (r = 0.54, P = 0.06). However, greater moderate-to-vigorous PA was correlated with lower pain at rest (r = -0.66, P = 0.01), pain catastrophizing (r = -0.53, P = 0.06), depression (r = -0.44, P = 0.14), and anxiety (r = -0.57, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Objective accelerometer-measured PA has the potential to reveal differential associations between PA intensities, pain, and emotional functioning. Findings here suggest preliminary recommendations to focus on interconnections between moderate-to-vigorous PA, pain at rest, pain catastrophizing, anxiety, and depression for patients with chronic pain.

Efficacy of silver needle therapy for the treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain: a prospective, single-center, randomized, parallel-controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP) troubles approximately 30% of people worldwide. Silver needle therapy (SNT) is a treatment method to relieve soft tissue pain through heating. Therefore, this study aimed to observe the effects of SNT on CNSLBP.

METHODS

In this study, 100 patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: silver needle (SN) group and control group (n = 50). In the SN group, patients received SNT and physiotherapy, while patients received physiotherapy alone in the control group. At the 6-month follow-up, the numerical rating scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Short-Form 12 of quality of life (SF-12), the natural logarithms of low-frequency measurement (InLF), and the natural logarithms of high-frequency measurement (InHF) of heart rate variability (HRV) were recorded.

RESULTS

In both groups, NRS, ODI, SF-12 scores, and HRV at 2 weeks after treatment were improved and maintained for 6 months. Compared with the control group, more significant improvements were observed in the NRS and SF-12 scores at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months and in the ODI scores at 1 and 2 months in the SN group (P <  0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the groups in the ODI scores at 3 and 6 months. InLF and InHF in the SN group were higher than those in the control group at 3 and 6 months (P <  0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

SNT relieved pain and improved quality of life and autonomic nerve activity, especially parasympathetic nerve, in patients with CNSLBP, without serious complications.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry No. ChiCTR-OOC-17013237 . Registered on November 11, 2017.

Measurement Properties of the Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain

BACKGROUND

The Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ) is a brief and easy instrument to measure time spent on sedentary activities; however, no study has investigated the reliability and validity of this questionnaire in people with chronic low back pain (LBP).

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, measurement error, construct validity, and interpretability of the SBQ against data derived from an accelerometer in patients with nonspecific chronic LBP.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Outpatient physiotherapy clinic.

PATIENTS

Seventy-five patients aged between 18 and 60 years (mean age, 42 years old) with nonspecific chronic LBP were recruited for this study.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

METHODS

The Cronbach's α was calculated to investigate the internal consistency of the SBQ and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to investigate the reliability of the SBQ between two administrations separated by a 1-week interval. Measurement error was assessed calculating the SEM and minimal detectable change (MDC). Spearman correlation (r) was calculated to investigate the construct validity using hypothesis testing. Interpretability was investigated using ceiling and floor effects.

RESULTS

The Cronbach's α of the SBQ total score was 0.92, indicating homogeneity among the items of the instrument. The reliability of the SBQ was excellent (ICC > 0.75), without any evidence of ceiling and floor effects. Regarding measurement error, the total score of the SBQ showed an SEM and MDC of 109.8 minutes per day and 304.4 minutes per day, respectively. However, there were no correlations of the SBQ domains or the total score with the accelerometer-measured sedentary time (r < 0.25).

CONCLUSION

The SBQ is a reliable tool for quantifying time spent in sedentary activities of patients with chronic LBP. The SBQ showed poor construct validity compared to the accelerometer-measured sedentary time, which indicates that patients may underestimate their time spent in sedentary activities.

Critical evaluation of physical activity questionnaires translated to Brazilian-Portuguese: a systematic review on cross-cultural adaptation and measurements properties

BACKGROUND

The number of questionnaires that measures physical activity levels has increased considerably. For Brazilian population it becomes a challenge, due to the need of a rigorous translation, adaptation and testing of measurement properties.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the methodological quality and criteria of physical activity questionnaires translated to Brazilian-Portuguese.

METHODS

Methodological quality and quality criteria was assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments checklist.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine studies were included, the most frequent questionnaires investigated were the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (n=16) and the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire (n=12). Translation (n=13), reliability (n=37) and construct validity (n=44) were the measurement properties commonly investigated. For reliability, most studies were rated as 'adequate' for methodological quality. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient of the questionnaires ranged from 0.20 to 1.0. For construct validity, 31 analyses showed 'inadequate' methodological quality, due to poor description of the comparator instrument. High level of evidence on reliability were found for Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire, Self-administered Physical Activity Checklist and Physical Activity Questionnaire of the Surveillance System of Risk Factors and Protection for Chronic Diseases; on construct validity for Self-administered Physical Activity Checklist, Physical activity Questionnaire for Adolescents, Physical activity Questionnaire for Older Children and Saúde naBoa Questionnaire.

CONCLUSION

Most questionnaires showed poor methodological quality and measurement properties. The Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire and Self-administred Physical Activity Checklist showed better scorings for methodological quality and quality criteria. Further high methodological quality studies are still warranted.

Is There Equivalence Between the Electronic and Paper Version of the Questionnaires for Assessment of Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain?

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the equivalence of electronic and paper version of self-report questionnaires for the assessment of disability, pain, fear of movement, depression, and physical activity of patients with chronic low back pain (LBP).

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Paper and electronic versions of self-report questionnaires are commonly used for assessment of patients with LBP. However, the equivalence of self-report questionnaires commonly used for assessment of patients with chronic LBP remains unclear.

METHODS

Seventy-nine individuals with chronic LBP seeking physiotherapy care were recruited. Participants attended the clinic twice with an interval of 1 week and completed the self-reported questionnaires in a random order. The following questionnaires were administered: Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ); 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS); Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK); Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D), and Baecke Habitual Physical Activity Questionnaire (BPAQ). To investigate the equivalence between the two questionnaire versions, intraclass correlation coefficient with 95% confidence interval and Bland-Altman plotting was used.

RESULTS

The paper and electronic versions of the RMDQ, TSK, and CES-D showed good reliability and the showed moderate reliability. In contrast, the NRS showed poor reliability between the electronic and paper versions.

CONCLUSION

Our findings support that the electronic version of the RMDQ, TSK, CES-D, and BPAQ can be administered in clinical and research settings for assessment of patients with chronic LBP. Nevertheless, electronic version of the NRS for assessment of pain intensity should not be used interchangeably in clinical practice in patients with chronic LBP.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3.

Responsiveness of Device-Based and Self-Report Measures of Physical Activity to Detect Behavior Change in Men Taking Part in the Football Fans in Training (FFIT) Program

The capacity of physical activity (PA) measures to detect changes in PA within interventions is crucial. This is the first study to examine the responsiveness of activPAL3™ and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ; Short Form) in detecting PA change during a 12-week group-based, men-only weight management program-Football Fans in Training (FFIT). Participants wore an activPAL3™ and completed the IPAQ pre- and post-program (n = 30). Relationships between change scores were assessed by Spearman's correlations. Mean or median changes in PA were measured using paired samples t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Responsiveness to change was assessed utilizing Standardized Response Mean (SRM). Both device-based and self-report measures demonstrated significant changes pre-post intervention, although these changes were not significantly correlated. The SRM values for changes in activPAL3™ metrics were: 0.54 (MET-mins/day); 0.53 (step counts/day); and 0.44 (MVPA/day), indicating a small to medium responsiveness to change. SRM values for changes in IPAQ scores were: 0.59 (for total PA mins/day); 0.54 (for total MET-mins/day); 0.59 (for walking MET-mins/day); 0.38 (for vigorous MET-mins/day); and 0.38 (for moderate MET-mins/day), revealing a small to medium responsiveness to change. These findings reveal that two commonly used device-based and self-report measures demonstrated responsiveness to changes in PA. While inclusion of both device-based and self-report measures is desirable within interventions it is not always feasible. The results from this study support that self-reported measures can detect PA change within behavioral interventions, although may have a tendency to overestimate changes compared with device-based measures on absolute values, but not standardized response values.

Correlation Between Habitual Physical Activity and Central Sensitization, Pain Intensity, Kinesiophobia, Catastrophizing, and the Severity of Myogenous Temporomandibular Disorder

OBJECTIVE

We sought to correlate habitual physical activity with central sensitization, pain intensity, kinesiophobia, catastrophizing, and the severity of chronic myogenous temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

METHODS

This was an observational study. Fifty-five individuals, male and female, aged 18 to 45 years, with pain for at least 3 months (chronic) related to myogenous TMD were included in the study. Myogenous TMD was evaluated by means of the Numerical Rating Scale, Catastrophic Thoughts on Pain Scale, Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, Fonseca Anamnestic Index, Central Sensitization Inventory, and habitual physical activity by means of the Baecke Questionnaire (BQ). The Spearman correlation coefficient (r s) was applied to verify the association of the BQ score with the pain variables.

RESULTS

No significant correlations (P > .05) were observed in the total or mean BQ scores (both r s = -0.17 to -0.04), nor in the analyses performed on the occupational (r s = -0.03 to 0.14), sport (r s = -0.16 to 0.01), and leisure domains (r s = -0.16 to -0.02).

CONCLUSION

Habitual physical activity as measured by the BQ is not associated with pain intensity, catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, central sensitization, or the severity of chronic myogenous TMD.