Exploring real-world lumbar posture behaviour. A whole day comparison of individuals with low back pain and healthy controls
Authors: McClintock, F.A., Callaway, A.J., Clark, C.J., Muñoz-Gómez, E., Alqhtani, R.S., Williams, J.M.
Journal: Clinical Biomechanics
Publication Date: 01/08/2026
Volume: 138
eISSN: 1879-1271
ISSN: 0268-0033
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2026.106908
Abstract:Background: Previous research of lumbar posture on individuals with low back pain (LBP) has produced conflicting findings compared to control groups. This research has been limited by environmental or task constraints. Real-world postural behaviour across an entire day remains poorly understood. This study examined whole-day lumbar posture characteristics in people with and without LBP using wearable sensors. Methods: 13 people with LBP and 11 healthy controls volunteered for this study. A three-accelerometer setup was used to measure real-world lumbar posture classifying sitting and standing. Data were normalised to individual maximum ranges. Differences in measures of mean posture, variability, fidgeting, and posture-use frequency distributions, were derived. Findings: An average of 350 min of data per person was available for analysis. Overall, between group differences were small. LBP demonstrated more flexed posture use in standing and a more flexed sitting frequency distribution. Interpretation: Real-world posture behaviour was similar between individuals with and without LBP. Where differences were determined they related to temporal components such as frequencies which are masked with traditional postural estimates. These findings suggest that posture-pain relationships may vary substantially between individuals, emphasising the need for person-specific analysis in future research.
Source: Scopus
Exploring real-world lumbar posture behaviour. A whole day comparison of individuals with low back pain and healthy controls.
Authors: McClintock, F.A., Callaway, A.J., Clark, C.J., Muñoz-Gómez, E., Alqhtani, R.S., Williams, J.M.
Journal: Clin Biomech (Bristol)
Publication Date: 08/2026
Volume: 138
Pages: 106908
eISSN: 1879-1271
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2026.106908
Abstract:BACKGROUND: Previous research of lumbar posture on individuals with low back pain (LBP) has produced conflicting findings compared to control groups. This research has been limited by environmental or task constraints. Real-world postural behaviour across an entire day remains poorly understood. This study examined whole-day lumbar posture characteristics in people with and without LBP using wearable sensors. METHODS: 13 people with LBP and 11 healthy controls volunteered for this study. A three-accelerometer setup was used to measure real-world lumbar posture classifying sitting and standing. Data were normalised to individual maximum ranges. Differences in measures of mean posture, variability, fidgeting, and posture-use frequency distributions, were derived. FINDINGS: An average of 350 min of data per person was available for analysis. Overall, between group differences were small. LBP demonstrated more flexed posture use in standing and a more flexed sitting frequency distribution. INTERPRETATION: Real-world posture behaviour was similar between individuals with and without LBP. Where differences were determined they related to temporal components such as frequencies which are masked with traditional postural estimates. These findings suggest that posture-pain relationships may vary substantially between individuals, emphasising the need for person-specific analysis in future research.
Source: PubMed
Exploring real-world lumbar posture behaviour. A whole day comparison of individuals with low back pain and healthy controls
Authors: McClintock, F.A., Callaway, A.J., Clark, C.J., Munoz-Gomez, E., Alqhtani, R.S., Williams, J.M.
Journal: CLINICAL BIOMECHANICS
Publication Date: 08/2026
Volume: 138
eISSN: 1879-1271
ISSN: 0268-0033
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2026.106908
Source: Web of Science
Exploring real-world lumbar posture behaviour. A whole day comparison of individuals with low back pain and healthy controls.
Authors: McClintock, F.A., Callaway, A.J., Clark, C.J., Muñoz-Gómez, E., Alqhtani, R.S., Williams, J.M.
Journal: Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)
Publication Date: 08/2026
Volume: 138
Pages: 106908
eISSN: 1879-1271
ISSN: 1879-1271
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2026.106908
Abstract:Background
Previous research of lumbar posture on individuals with low back pain (LBP) has produced conflicting findings compared to control groups. This research has been limited by environmental or task constraints. Real-world postural behaviour across an entire day remains poorly understood. This study examined whole-day lumbar posture characteristics in people with and without LBP using wearable sensors.Methods
13 people with LBP and 11 healthy controls volunteered for this study. A three-accelerometer setup was used to measure real-world lumbar posture classifying sitting and standing. Data were normalised to individual maximum ranges. Differences in measures of mean posture, variability, fidgeting, and posture-use frequency distributions, were derived.Findings
An average of 350 min of data per person was available for analysis. Overall, between group differences were small. LBP demonstrated more flexed posture use in standing and a more flexed sitting frequency distribution.Interpretation
Real-world posture behaviour was similar between individuals with and without LBP. Where differences were determined they related to temporal components such as frequencies which are masked with traditional postural estimates. These findings suggest that posture-pain relationships may vary substantially between individuals, emphasising the need for person-specific analysis in future research.Source: Europe PubMed Central