The influence of spinal pain, spinal mobility, and spinal curvature on the risk of falling in osteoporotic patients

Abstract

settingsOrder Article Reprints Open AccessArticle The Influence of Spinal Pain, Spinal Mobility, and Spinal Curvature on the Risk of Falling in Osteoporotic Patients by Antonia Diegisser 1,Janine Huthwelker 1,*,Jürgen Konradi 1ORCID,Friedrich Bodem 1,†,Philipp Drees 2 andUlrich Betz 1ORCID 1 Institute of Physical Therapy, Prevention and Rehabilitation, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany 2 Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. † Author deceased. J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(13), 4511; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14134511 Submission received: 28 May 2025 / Revised: 17 June 2025 / Accepted: 18 June 2025 / Published: 25 June 2025 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and Rehabilitation in Osteoporosis) Downloadkeyboard_arrow_down Browse Figures Versions Notes Abstract Background/Objective: Although the increased proneness to falling in osteoporotic patients has been stated in the literature, the knowledge of underlying reasons and their possible interactions is incomplete. For this reason, it was the aim of this work to investigate the possible relation between spinal pain, spinal mobility, and spinal curvature on the risk of falling in osteoporotic patients. Methods: Our study included a total of 100 osteoporotic patients. Standardized methods were used to evaluate spinal pain, spinal mobility, and spinal statics. The risk of falling was assessed by the Tinetti test. To explicitly determine potential spine-related risk factors for falling, the results observed were adjusted by linear regression statistics considering already known risk factors (e.g., age, level of activity, muscle weakness, disturbed lateral balance). Results: The risk of falling in osteoporotic patients was found to be influenced by spinal pain (p = 0.010), the total spine mobility (p = 0.013), and, in particular, by its rotational mobility (p = 0.019). Spinal curvature (spine inclination in this context) did not show a significant effect (p = 0.892). Conclusions: Spinal pain and total spine mobility, in particular its rotational mobility, contribute to the risk of falling in osteoporotic patients. This finding should be appropriately considered in preventive patient care programs.