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Perceived Body Distortion Rather Than Actual Body Distortion Is Associated With Chronic Low Back Pain in Adults With Cerebral Palsy: A Preliminary Investigation
Author(s) -
Yamashita Hirofumi,
Nishigami Tomohiko,
Mibu Akira,
Tanaka Katsuyoshi,
Manfuku Masahiro,
Fukuhara Hikaru,
Yoshino Koichi,
Seto Yoichi,
Wand Benedict M.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
pain practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1533-2500
pISSN - 1530-7085
DOI - 10.1111/papr.12815
Subject(s) - cerebral palsy , low back pain , medicine , gross motor function classification system , physical therapy , perception , back pain , population , physical medicine and rehabilitation , motor function , audiology , psychology , alternative medicine , environmental health , pathology , neuroscience
Abstract Objectives The aim of the present study was to investigate whether distorted body perception is a feature of the low back pain (LBP) experience in people with cerebral palsy (CP) and whether any distortions noted are confounded by the presence of motor and postural impairments commonly seen in CP. Methods Forty‐five individuals participated in this study: 15 adults with CP with LBP (CP_Pain group), 15 adults with CP without LBP (CP_noPain group), and 15 age‐matched adults with LBP but no CP (Pain group). Body perception was evaluated using the Fremantle Back Awareness Questionnaire (FreBAQ) and by assessing 2‐point discrimination thresholds over the low back. A comprehensive assessment of motor function was also undertaken in the CP population, and postural function was assessed in all 3 groups. Results Significant differences between the 3 groups were found for FreBAQ scores ( P < 0.0001). The TPD threshold in the low back of the CP_Pain group was significantly larger than that of the CP_noPain group ( P = 0.01), though we found no difference between the CP_noPain group and the Pain group ( P = 0.21). We found no difference in motor or postural function between the 2 CP groups. Discussion The present results suggest that body image is disrupted in people with CP who experience LBP. The disruptions in perception were similar to those seen in people with LBP and no CP, suggesting that the distortions may be more related to the presence of pain than the presence of CP.