Relationship of Anxiety, Physical Performance, and Sarcopenia in Older People with Low Back Pain: A Scoping Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v11i35.7587Keywords:
Low Back Pain, Anxiety, Sarcopenia, Physical PerformanceAbstract
Low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent among older adults due to age-related sarcopenia, declining physical function, and anxiety, leading to disability and reduced independence. However, a limited understanding of their interaction hinders effective screening and rehabilitation. This review aims to explore the relationship between anxiety, physical performance, and sarcopenia in older adults with LBP. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science was conducted in strict accordance with PRISMA-ScR review guidelines. Nine studies reported reduced physical performance, and Sarcopenia increased LBP, disability, and anxiety. Thus, dual physical-psychological screening may optimize LBP management in older adults.
References
Ammendolia, C. (2025). Ten myths of back pain in older adults that can lead to ineffective and harmful care. Chiropr Man Therap, 33(1), 45. doi:10.1186/s12998-025-00609-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12998-025-00609-9
Chen, H., Huang, X., Dong, M., Wen, S., Zhou, L., & Yuan, X. (2023). The Association Between Sarcopenia and Diabetes: From Pathophysiology Mechanism to Therapeutic Strategy. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes, 16, 1541-1554. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S410834
Hao, Q., Hu, X., Xie, L., Chen, J., Jiaojiao, J., Dong, B., & Yang, M. (2018). Prevalence of sarcopenia and associated factors in hospitalised older patients: A cross-sectional study. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 37. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ajag.12492
Imai, R., Imaoka, M., Nakao, H., Hida, M., Tazaki, F., Inoue, T., . . . Nakamura, M. (2022). Association between chronic pain with presarcopenia and central sensitization in Japanese community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional study. Medicine (Baltimore), 101(32), e29998. doi:10.1097/md.0000000000029998 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000029998
Iwahashi, Hashida, R., Matsuse, H., Higashi, E., Bekki, M., Iwanaga, S., . . . Shiba, N. (2022). The impact of sarcopenia on low back pain and quality of life in patients with osteoporosis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 23(1), 142. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05086-2
Queiroz, A. M., Estrázulas, J. A., Garnelo, L., Siqueira, J. H., Fonseca, F. R., & Herkrath, F. J. (2023). Association of physical performance and sarcopenia with use of health services in elderly people living in rural riverside areas in the Amazon: a cross-sectional study. Rural Remote Health, 23(4), 7957. doi:10.22605/rrh7957 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22605/RRH7957
Sahin, U. K., & Şentürk, A. Y. (2023). The Relationship between Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Sarcopenia Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study. Ann Geriatr Med Res, 27(3), 250-257. doi:10.4235/agmr.23.0081 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4235/agmr.23.0081
Sakai, Y., Matsui, H., Ito, S., Hida, T., Ito, K., Koshimizu, H., & Harada, A. (2017). Sarcopenia in elderly patients with chronic low back pain. Osteoporos Sarcopenia, 3(4), 195-200. doi:10.1016/j.afos.2017.09.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.afos.2017.09.001
Shalaby, A. S., el-sharaki, D. R., & Salem, G. M. (2018). Anxiety, depression, and quality of life in backache patients before and after spinal traction. The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery, 54(1), 44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41983-018-0048-5
Sun, S., Lee, H., Yim, H. W., Won, H. S., & Ko, Y. H. (2019). The impact of sarcopenia on health-related quality of life in elderly people: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Korean J Intern Med, 34(4), 877-884. doi:10.3904/kjim.2017.182 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2017.182
Tanishima, S., Hagino, H., Matsumoto, H., Tanimura, C., & Nagashima, H. (2017). Association between sarcopenia and low back pain in local residents prospective cohort study from the GAINA study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 18(1), 452. doi:10.1186/s12891-017-1807-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-017-1807-7
Tsekoura, M., Billis, E., Matzaroglou, C., Tsepis, E., & Gliatis, J. (2024). Association between Chronic Pain and Sarcopenia in Greek Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare (Basel), 12(13). doi:10.3390/healthcare12131303 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12131303
Tsuji, S., Shinmura, K., Nagai, K., Wada, Y., Kusunoki, H., Tamaki, K., . . . Tachibana, T. (2021). Low back pain is closely associated with frailty but not with sarcopenia: Cross-sectional study of rural Japanese community-dwelling older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int, 21(1), 54-59. doi:10.1111/ggi.14100 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.14100
Wada, T., Tanishima, S., Osaki, M., Nagashima, H., & Hagino, H. (2019). Relationship between sarcopenia and pain catastrophizing in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: A cross-sectional study. Osteoporos Sarcopenia, 5(4), 132-136. doi:10.1016/j.afos.2019.12.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.afos.2019.12.001
Xing, W.-Y., Tang, L., Zheng, Y.-N., Bai, Y.-W., Jiang, X., Bi, X., & Wang, X.-Q. (2025). Prevalence and risk factors of lower back pain in middle-aged and elderly people with sarcopenia: a nationwide cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 1517. doi:10.1186/s12889-025-22723-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22723-2
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Norshahiza Mohd Pathyhi, Zarina Zahari , Maria Justine, Risa Kusuma Anggraini
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
