The Relationship Between Low Back Pain and Hamstring Tightness: A Critically Appraised Topic
McGartland M., SPT; Sanfilippo A., SPT
Faculty Mentor: Janice Loudon, PT, Ph.D., SCS, ATC, CSCS; Marcie Swift, PT, Ph.D. FAAOMPT
McGartland M., SPT; Sanfilippo A., SPT
Faculty Mentor: Janice Loudon, PT, Ph.D., SCS, ATC, CSCS; Marcie Swift, PT, Ph.D. FAAOMPT
Institution(s): Rockhurst University, Department of Physical Therapy Education, Kansas City, MO
Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this Critically Appraised Topic (CAT) was to determine the relationship between individuals with a history of low back pain (LBP) and hamstring tightness. Understanding this relationship will better guide physical therapy examination and treatment of patients with LBP.
Methods/ Materials: A computer-assisted literature search of Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, and PubMed databases was conducted using the keywords low back pain, low back dysfunction, hamstring tightness, and hamstring strain. Inclusion criteria for articles were: English written, published within the last 15 years, and at least a case-controlled design. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist was used to analyze the quality of each of the included articles.
Results: The literature search yielded 8 articles, 4 of which met our inclusion criteria. The four articles ranged from 16 - 17 out of a possible 21 points on the STROBE checklist. Design limitation for all articles included no blinding during testing and no generalizability. Of the articles appraised, two found a relationship between LBP and hamstring tightness, one found no influence of hamstring tightness on LBP, and one had inconclusive findings on the relationship between LBP and hamstring tightness.
Conclusions: Based on the results of this critically appraised topic, there is conflicting evidence in the relationship between individuals with a history of LBP and hamstring tightness.
Funding Source: None
Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this Critically Appraised Topic (CAT) was to determine the relationship between individuals with a history of low back pain (LBP) and hamstring tightness. Understanding this relationship will better guide physical therapy examination and treatment of patients with LBP.
Methods/ Materials: A computer-assisted literature search of Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, and PubMed databases was conducted using the keywords low back pain, low back dysfunction, hamstring tightness, and hamstring strain. Inclusion criteria for articles were: English written, published within the last 15 years, and at least a case-controlled design. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist was used to analyze the quality of each of the included articles.
Results: The literature search yielded 8 articles, 4 of which met our inclusion criteria. The four articles ranged from 16 - 17 out of a possible 21 points on the STROBE checklist. Design limitation for all articles included no blinding during testing and no generalizability. Of the articles appraised, two found a relationship between LBP and hamstring tightness, one found no influence of hamstring tightness on LBP, and one had inconclusive findings on the relationship between LBP and hamstring tightness.
Conclusions: Based on the results of this critically appraised topic, there is conflicting evidence in the relationship between individuals with a history of LBP and hamstring tightness.
Funding Source: None