ASSOCIATION OF LUMBAR RADICULOPATHY WITH DYNAMIC BALANCE AND GAIT PARAMETERS IN ADULTS A CORRELATION STUDY

Asaad Saleem Malik, Mamoona Tasleem Afzal, Dr. Nusrat Batool, Dr. Nisar Fatima, Azka Kainat, Sara Khan, Syed Hashir Ali, Rehan Sarwar, Ayesha Javed, Tamjeed Ghaffar*

ABSTRACT:

Objective: To determine the correlation and effects of Lumbar radiculopathy with gait parameters and dynamic balance measured on Time Up and Go test and Berg Balance Scale.

Methods: A correlational study was conducted in hospitals of the Islamabad/Rawalpindi.Population of 260 adult patients with signs and symptoms of Lumbar radiculopathy were included in the study. Patients resulting positive results on any 3 of the tests from SLR, Laseague, Sicard and Valsalva test. Patients were given a structured questionnaire and assessed for their positive response on inclusion criteria tests and their pain was recorded on NPRS using a structured questionnaire and was tested for their gait parameters by asking them to walk for 10 seconds noting their cadence, step length, stride length and step width with marked ink markers on their feet along with dynamic balance on BBS and TUG test.

Results: Significant results (p; 0.05) and correlation of Lumbar radiculopathy adversely affecting the gait parameters from healthy standards and also adversely affecting the dynamic balance as shown on BBS score and TUG test. With increasing NPRS rating, the dynamic balance was more disturbed as BBS score was lower and TUG time was higher to complete, and gait parameters were also more deviated from normal. The results additionally showed that Higher BMI of patients also rates higher ratings on NPRS, and higher BMI also adversely effects both dynamic balance and gait parameters.

Conclusion: higher NPRS ratings of the Lumbar radiculopathy patients have more negative effects on dynamic balance and gait parameters.

Keywords: Lumbar radiculopathy, Low back pain, Dynamic balance, Dynamic posture, BMI, Gait parameters.