Clinical Evaluation of Scapular Positioning in Patients With Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain: A Case-Control Study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the position of scapula in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain.

Methods: A total of 17 participants with a history of nonspecific chronic low back pain and 17 healthy participants in the same age, sex, and weight range were enrolled in this case-control study. Lateral scapular slide test and Lennie test were used for clinical evaluation of scapular position in the frontal plane using a tape measure. The data were analyzed using an independent test.

Results: The results of lateral scapular slide test indicated that there were significant differences between patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain and healthy individuals in both left and right sides in 2 positions: shoulder in neutral position and shoulder at 40°-45° abduction. Also, in the Lennie test, there was only a significant difference between groups when we measured the distances from thoracic spinous process to the inferior angle of the scapula in both left and right sides.

Conclusion: This study indicated that upward rotation of the scapula can be seen in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain.