Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ASCO Annual Meeting 2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Keep up to date with all the top stories and latest evidence with our hub page, including official congress videos and expert takeaways.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Association between objectively measured physical activity and body mass index with low back pain: a large-scale cross-sectional study of Japanese men

Authors: Yuko Hashimoto, Ko Matsudaira, Susumu S. Sawada, Yuko Gando, Ryoko Kawakami, Robert A. Sloan, Chihiro Kinugawa, Takashi Okamoto, Koji Tsukamoto, Motohiko Miyachi, Hisashi Naito

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2018

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

The relationship between the combination of physical activity (PA) and body mass index (BMI) with low back pain (LBP) is unclear. The present study offers a cross-sectional assessment of how combinations of PA and BMI are related to LBP in Japanese men.

Methods

Participants were 4022 Japanese men (mean age = 47) who underwent regular clinical examinations. PA was measured using a uniaxial accelerometer and divided into tertiles (PAhigh, PAmiddle, PAlow). A self-administered questionnaire was used to report on persistent LBP experience, drinking and smoking habits, and any existing lifestyle diseases. After covariance adjustment, a logistic regression model was used to assess how combinations of PA and BMI are related to persistent LBP.

Results

428 of the participants had persistent LBP. A clear negative dose-response relationship was found between PA levels and persistent LBP (P for linearity = 0.012). Regarding BMI, odd ratios were shown to be higher in the overweight/obese category (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) than for the normal weight category (BMI < 25 kg/m2). When the PAhigh was taken as the reference in the normal weight category, odds ratios for PAlow and PAmiddle in the normal weight category were shown to be high. Moreover, in the overweight/obese category, odd ratios for every fitness level were also high as for the normal weight category.

Conclusion

The present study showed that both PA and BMI are related to persistent LBP. Also, the prevalence of persistent LBP became higher when PAlow and high BMI are combined rather than the group of PAhigh and low BMI combination.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Global Burden of Disease Study C. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 301 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 188 countries, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2013. Lancet. 2015;386:743–800.CrossRef
2.
3.
Takura T, Ushida T, Kanchiku T, Ebata N, Fujii K, DiBonaventura M, et al. The societal burden of chronic pain in Japan: an internet survey. J Orthop Sci. 2015;20:750–60.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Wen CP, Wai JP, Tsai MK, Yang YC, Cheng TY, Lee MC, et al. Minimum amount of physical activity for reduced mortality and extended life expectancy: a prospective cohort study. Lancet. 2011;378:1244–53.CrossRefPubMed
5.
6.
Lin CW, McAuley JH, Macedo L, Barnett DC, Smeets RJ, Verbunt JA. Relationship between physical activity and disability in low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain. 2011;152:607–13.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Griffin DW, Harmon DC, Kennedy NM. Do patients with chronic low back pain have an altered level and/or pattern of physical activity compared to healthy individuals? A systematic review of the literature. Physiotherapy. 2012;98:13–23.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Heneweer H, Vanhees L, Picavet HS. Physical activity and low back pain: a U-shaped relation? Pain. 2009;143:21–5.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Kayihan G. Relationship between daily physical activity level and low back pain in young, female desk-job workers. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2014;27:863–70.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Kamada M, Kitayuguchi J, Lee IM, Hamano T, Imamura F, Inoue S, et al. Relationship between physical activity and chronic musculoskeletal pain among community-dwelling Japanese adults. Journal of Epidemiology. 2014;24:474–83.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Lunde LK, Koch M, Hanvold TN, Wærsted M, Veiersted KB. Low back pain and physical activity--a 6.5 year follow-up among young adults in their transition from school to working life. BMC Public Health. 2015;15:1115.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
12.
Landmark T, Romundstad PR, Borchgrevink PC, Kaasa S, Dale O. Longitudinal associations between exercise and pain in the general population--the HUNT pain study. PLoS One. 2013;8(6):e65279.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
13.
Leboeuf-Yde C. Body weight and low back pain. A systematic literature review of 56 journal articles reporting on 65 epidemiologic studies. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2000;25:226–37.CrossRef
14.
Heuch I, Hagen K, Heuch I, Nygaard O, Zwart JA. The impact of body mass index on the prevalence of low back pain: the HUNT study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2010;35:764–8.CrossRef
15.
Janke EA, Collins A, Kozak AT. Overview of the relationship between pain and obesity: what do we know? Where do we go next? J Rehabil Res Dev. 2007;44:245.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Westerterp KR. Assessment of physical activity level in relation to obesity: current evidence and research issues. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;31:S522–5.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Dyrstad SM, Hansen BH, Holme IM, Anderssen SA. Comparison of self-reported versus accelerometer-measured physical activity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2014;46:99–106.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Ryan CG, Margaret Grant P, Dall PM, Gray H, Newton M, Granat MH. Individuals with chronic low back pain have a lower level, and an altered pattern, of physical activity compared with matched controls: an observational study. Aust J Physiother. 2009;55:53–8.CrossRefPubMed
19.
van Weering MG, Vollenbroek-Hutten MM, Tonis TM, Hermens HJ. Daily physical activities in chronic lower back pain patients assessed with accelerometry. Eur J Pain. 2009;13:649–54.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Verbunt JA, Westerterp KR, van der Heijden GJ, Seelen HA, Vlaeyen JW, Knottnerus JA. Physical activity in daily life in patients with chronic low back pain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2001;82:726–30.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Raichlen DA, Foster AD, Seillier A, Giuffrida A, Gerdeman GL. Exercise-induced endocannabinoid signaling is modulated by intensity. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2013;113:869–75.CrossRefPubMed
22.
Stagg NJ, Mata HP, Ibrahim MM, Henriksen EJ, Porreca F, Vanderah TW, et al. Regular exercise reverses sensory hypersensitivity in a rat neuropathic pain model: role of endogenous opioids. Anesthesiology. 2011;114:940–8.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Tilg H, Moschen AR. Adipocytokines: mediators linking adipose tissue, inflammation and immunity. Nat Rev Immunol. 2006;6:772–83.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Murakami H, Kawakami R, Nakae S, Nakata Y, Ishikawa-Takata K, Tanaka S, et al. Accuracy of wearable devices for estimating Total energy expenditure: comparison with metabolic chamber and doubly labeled water method. JAMA Intern Med. 2016;176:702–3.CrossRefPubMed
25.
McClain JJ, Craig CL, Sisson SB, Tudor-Locke C. Comparison of Lifecorder EX and ActiGraph accelerometers under free-living conditions. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2007;32:753–61.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Kumahara H, Schutz Y, Ayabe M, Yoshioka M, Yoshitake Y, Shindo M, et al. The use of uniaxial accelerometry for the assessment of physical-activity-related energy expenditure: a validation study against whole-body indirect calorimetry. Br J Nutr. 2004;91:235–43.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Tudor-Locke C, Ainsworth BE, Thompson RW, Matthews CE. Comparison of pedometer and accelerometer measures of free-living physical activity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002;34:2045–51.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Clemes SA, Griffiths PL. How many days of pedometer monitoring predict monthly ambulatory activity in adults? Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;40:1589–95.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Arnbak B, Jensen RK, Manniche C, Hendricks O, Kent P, Jurik AG, et al. Identification of subgroups of inflammatory and degenerative MRI findings in the spine and sacroiliac joints: a latent class analysis of 1037 patients with persistent low back pain. Arthritis Res Ther. 2016;18:237.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
30.
Slater H, Jordan JE, Chua J, Schutze R, Wark JD, Briggs AM. Young people's experiences of persistent musculoskeletal pain, needs, gaps and perceptions about the role of digital technologies to support their co-care: a qualitative study. BMJ Open. 2016;6:e014007.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
31.
Wertli MM, Rasmussen-Barr E, Held U, Weiser S, Bachmann LM, Brunner F. Fear-avoidance beliefs-a moderator of treatment efficacy in patients with low back pain: a systematic review. Spine J. 2014;14:2658–78.CrossRefPubMed
32.
Vuori IM. Dose-response of physical activity and low back pain, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;33:S551–86. discussion 609-610CrossRefPubMed
33.
Steffens D, Maher CG, Pereira LS, Stevens ML, Oliveira VC, Chapple M, et al. Prevention of low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Intern Med. 2016;176:199–208.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Fabris de Souza SA, Faintuch J, Valezi AC, Sant'Anna AF, Gama-Rodrigues JJ, de Batista Fonseca IC, et al. Postural changes in morbidly obese patients. Obes Surg. 2005;15:1013–6.CrossRefPubMed
35.
Metadata
Title
Association between objectively measured physical activity and body mass index with low back pain: a large-scale cross-sectional study of Japanese men
Authors
Yuko Hashimoto
Ko Matsudaira
Susumu S. Sawada
Yuko Gando
Ryoko Kawakami
Robert A. Sloan
Chihiro Kinugawa
Takashi Okamoto
Koji Tsukamoto
Motohiko Miyachi
Hisashi Naito
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5253-8

Other articles of this Issue 1/2018

BMC Public Health 1/2018 Go to the issue

Research article

Association between internal migration and epidemic dynamics: an analysis of cause-specific mortality in Kenya and South Africa using health and demographic surveillance data

Research article

Direct healthcare costs associated with device assessed and self-reported physical activity: results from a cross-sectional population-based study

Research article

Association between education and television viewing among older working and retired people: a comparative study of Finland and Japan

Research article

Religion and Health: exploration of attitudes and health perceptions of faith healing users in urban Ghana

Research article

Loss-to-follow-up and delay to treatment initiation in Pakistan’s national tuberculosis control programme

Research article

Evaluation of a local government “shelter and van” intervention to improve safety and reduce alcohol-related harm