Inflammatory low back pain in Axial Spondyloarthritis versus mechanical low back pain
What features in the history and physical examination are helpful in differentiating inflammatory LBP in axSpA from mechanical LBP?
Inflammatory LBP | Mechanical LBP | |
|---|---|---|
| Age of onset, years | <40 | Any age |
| Type of onset | Insidious | Acute (typically after injury) |
| Symptom duration | >3 months | <4 weeks |
| Morning stiffness | >60 minutes | <30 minutes |
| Nocturnal pain | Frequent | Absent |
| Effect of exercise | Improvement | Exacerbation |
| Effect of rest | Exacerbation | Improvement |
| Back mobility | Loss in all planes | Abnormal flexion |
| Alternating buttock pain | Present in early disease | Not present |
