Correlation between Sagittal Lumbopelvic Control and Pain Sensitivity and Intensity in Chronic Lumbosacral Radiculopathy Female Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic lumbosacral radiculopathy (LSR) patients frequently complain of recurrent chronic lumbopelvic pain. The poor lumbopelvic (LP) control may be related to this chronic pain in LSR. We aimed to investigate the relation of sagittal LP control with pain sensitivity and intensity in chronic LSR females. METHODS: This study included forty females with chronic unilateral discogenic LSR (30-46 years old). Their low back pain intensity was 6.87±1.02 by visual analogue scale (VAS). The sagittal LP control and pain sensitivity and intensity were assessed for all patients using a pressure biofeedback unit during prone hip extension task, a digital pressure algometer applied at low back area and four sciatic valleix spots, and the VAS, respectively. RESULTS: A moderate significant negative relation was found between sagittal LP control and pain sensitivity at low back point (r = -0.48, p = 0.002). There was a moderate to strong significant negative relation between sagittal LP control and pain sensitivity at the different sciatic valleix spots. In addition, a strong positive correlation between poor sagittal LP control and pain intensity was found (r= 0.69, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Poor lumbopelvic control may be highly related with pain sensitivity and intensity in chronic LSR females.