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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Comparison of the roles of common constitutional and behavioural parameters in back performance estimates

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Objective: To compare the associations between different physical activity histories and anthropometric measures in isokinetic lifting performance, isometric back extension endurance and psychophysical lifting tests. Background: The relative roles and interaction of these factors related to back function are largely unknown. Methods: The subjects consisted of a population-based sample of 210 working-age males. Paraspinal muscle cross-sectional areas were obtained by magnetic resonance imaging; anthropometric measures, isokinetic and psychophysical lifting capacity, and isometric back extension endurance tests were performed and current and physical activity histories and occupational loading were enquired by structured interview. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were used to study the associations. Results: Lean body weight, body weight and sum of the paraspinal muscle CSAs at L3-L4 level predicted the highest amount of the variance (R 2 = 10-25%) and the different models of anthropometric measures and physical activity 7-33% of the variance in the back function tests. Conclusions: The models of physical activity and anthropometric measures or their combination predicted isokinetic lifting performances weakly and other back function test results even worse. As a single predictive factor, lean body weight showed weak ability to predict isokinetic lifting performances. Collecting current or past data of physical activity parameters does not add anything for predicting back function.