Relationship between skeletal muscle mass, abdominal obesity parameters and disability in chronic low back pain

This study adopts a cross-sectional design to investigate the associations between Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass Index (ASMI), Axial Skeletal Muscle Mass (AxSM), abdominal obesity parameters (visceral and subcutaneous fat areas), and disability in individuals with Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) compared to healthy controls. Participants with the CLBP group comprising adults aged 18–65 diagnosed with CLBP persisting for more than 3 months, while healthy controls will be matched for age, sex, and BMI, with no history of back pain. Exclusion criteria include the presence of other spinal pathologies, systemic conditions, recent surgeries, or pregnancy. A body composition analyzer will be used to measure ASMI, AxSM, and abdominal fat areas, while the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) will assess disability. Statistical analysis will examine these variables, including gender-specific differences and comparisons between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic individuals within the CLBP group. The study will adhere to ethical standards, securing informed consent from all participants and ensuring confidentiality throughout.