Biomechanical Gait Analysis in Low Back Pain (LBP)

Biomechanical Analysis of Gait in Individuals With Low Back Pain

The goal of this observational case-control study is to learn whether low back pain is associated with changes in gait and related clinical characteristics in adults over 18 years old. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Are gait biomechanics different in people with low back pain compared with people without low back pain?
• Are pain intensity, psychosocial risk, and physical activity levels different between both groups? Participants will complete questionnaires about low back pain, physical activity, and health status, and will perform a walking test in a motion analysis laboratory where gait parameters are recorded.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Low Back Pain

Detailed Description

This study is an observational case-control investigation designed to explore the relationship between low back pain and gait biomechanics in adults. Low back pain is a common health problem that may affect movement patterns, physical function, and daily activities. Understanding how gait is modified in people with low back pain may help to improve assessment and rehabilitation strategies.

Participants will be divided into two groups: adults with low back pain and adults without low back pain. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics will be collected to describe the sample and to allow comparisons between groups. The study will focus on the analysis of spatiotemporal, kinematic, and dynamic gait parameters obtained in a motion analysis laboratory.

Gait assessment will be performed using a three-dimensional motion capture system. In addition to gait analysis, participants will provide information about their health status, pain characteristics, physical activity, and psychosocial factors through self-report questionnaires. These variables will be used to describe the clinical profile of the participants and to examine potential associations with gait outcomes.

Comparisons between the low back pain group and the control group will be conducted to identify differences in gait biomechanics and clinical characteristics.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 74

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • León
    • Ponferrada, León, Spain, 24401
      • University of León - ULE MotionLab, Ponferrada Campus

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants will be adults from the community of León (Spain) and surrounding area, including university students, staff, and members of the general public. Individuals with and without low back pain will be recruited through public advertisements and local healthcare centers. The study population represents community-dwelling adults who are able to attend the gait analysis laboratory at the University of León.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged 18 years or older.
• Ability to read and understand Spanish.
• For the low back pain group: current low back pain or low back pain within the last month lasting at least 24 hours.
• For the control group: absence of current low back pain and no episode of low back pain during the previous month.
• Willingness to participate and provision of written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of leg pain or radicular symptoms (sciatica).
• Pregnancy or childbirth within the last 12 months.
• Previous lumbar spine surgery.
• History of cancer, spinal tumor, or spinal infection.
• Vertebral compression fracture.
• Central nervous system disease.
• Cauda equina syndrome.
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm.
• Any surgery or traumatic injury of the lower limbs within the last 5 years.
• Any medical condition that could affect gait performance.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Low Back Pain Group; Adults over 18 years with current or recent low back pain without leg pain, who undergo clinical assessment and gait analysis in a motion laboratory.
Control Group; Adults over 18 years without low back pain who undergo the same clinical assessment and gait analysis as the low back pain group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Gait speed	Mean walking speed during gait measured in meters per second (m/s) using 3D motion analysis.	At baseline assessment
Step and stride length	Step length and stride length measured in meters (m) during gait analysis	Baseline
Cadence	Number of steps per minute during walking recorded with motion capture system (steps/min)	Baseline
Temporal gait parameters	Stance time and gait cycle time measured in seconds during gait	Baseline
Pelvis kinematics	Pelvic angles during gait in sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes, reported as maximum angle, minimum angle, and range of motion (ROM calculated as max-min). Measured in degrees.	Baseline
Hip kinematics	Hip joint angles during gait in sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes, reported as maximum angle, minimum angle, and range of motion (ROM = max-min). Measured in degrees.	Baseline
Knee kinematics	Knee joint angles during gait in sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes, reported as maximum angle, minimum angle, and range of motion (ROM = max-min). Measured in degrees.	Baseline
Ankle kinematics	Ankle joint angles during gait in sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes, reported as maximum angle, minimum angle, and range of motion (ROM = max-min). Measured in degrees.	Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain intensity - Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)	Pain intensity measured with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst imaginable pain. Higher scores indicate worse pain intensity.	Baseline
Psychosocial risk - STarT Back Screening Tool (SBST)	Psychosocial risk assessed with the STarT Back Screening Tool (SBST). The total score ranges from 0 to 9 and participants are classified using the standard algorithm: Low risk: total score 0-3; Medium risk: total score ≥4, with psychosocial subscale <4; High risk: psychosocial subscale score ≥4. Higher categories indicate worse prognosis and greater risk of persistent disability.	Baseline
Physical activity level - International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF)	Physical activity assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Participants are classified into three categories according to standard scoring criteria: Low physical activity: not meeting criteria for moderate or high levels, Moderate physical activity: at least 600 MET-minutes/week through moderate activity or walking; High physical activity: at least 1500 MET-minutes/week of vigorous activity on ≥3 days, or ≥3000 MET-minutes/week of any combination of activities. Higher categories indicate greater levels of physical activity.	Baseline
Hip flexor (iliopsoas) shortening - Modified Thomas Test	Iliopsoas muscle shortening assessed using the Modified Thomas Test. The result is classified as positive when the thigh remains elevated above the table, and negative when the thigh rests on the table surface. Positive result indicates presence of iliopsoas shortening.	Baseline
Rectus femoris shortening - Modified Thomas Test	Rectus femoris muscle shortening assessed using the Modified Thomas Test. The result is classified as positive when knee flexion is less than 80°, and negative when knee flexion is 80° or greater. Positive result indicates presence of rectus femoris shortening.	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Arrate Pinto Carral

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 26, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): March 26, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 3, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 10, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 15, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 10, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Low Back Pain; Gait; Chronic pain; Kinematics
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Back Pain; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Chronic Pain; Low Back Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: ULE-069-2024

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: De-identified individual participant data will be shared in Microsoft Excel format upon reasonable request after publication. The dataset will include variables related to gait analysis and clinical measures, with all personal identifiers removed to protect confidentiality.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Data will be available upon reasonable request from September 2026, and will be publicly deposited in an institutional repository after publication of the main manuscript, with no defined end date.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Access will be granted to qualified researchers upon reasonable request. De-identified data in Excel format and supporting documents will be shared after approval of a research proposal and under a data use agreement to ensure confidentiality. After publication, data may also be accessible through the institutional repository of the University of León under open access conditions.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No