An
Investigation of the relationship of driving to external leg rotation and
the incidence of lower extremity pain in car drivers
Abstract
Aims
To determine if there
are significant difference between hours spent driving on a weekly basis,
longest journey time and increased right or left leg external rotation in
standing and sitting postures with the presence or absence of
self-reported lower extremity (hip, knee, ankle/foot) pain.
Design
Cross-sectional: two
groups of general population of drivers (N=26), 1) those reporting LEx pain
when driving and 2) those reporting no LEx pain when driving.
Outcome
measures
The primary outcome
measure: left and right lower extremity rotation angles ΦL
and ΦR. Additional outcome measures: approximate weekly
hours driving, approximate length (hr) of the longest individual journey,
the age of the driver and the total number of years driving experience.
Null
Hypotheses (H0)
There is no
statistically significant difference in outcome measures between those with
self-reported lower extremity (hip, knee, ankle/foot) pain when driving and
those without pain when driving (level of significance (LoS) P=0.05).
Methods
Modified questionnaire
to determine driver habits and presence, level and site of lower extremity
pain plus measurement of ΦL and ΦR
Results
15 subjects reported
pain on driving, 12 predominantly right-sided 3 left sided. The most
frequent site of pain was right knee. ΦR was significantly
greater in subjects reporting right-sided pain compared to those with no
pain (P<0.05) for both standing and sitting. Longest journey and driver
age were significantly higher in subjects reporting pain (all sites)
compared to those with no pain (P<0.05). Pain increased over time during
journeys in 13 out of 15 subjects with pain.
Conclusions
The primary outcome
measure ΦR has been shown to be significantly larger in
drivers reporting right sided LEx pain in two postures, standing and sitting
compared to those reporting no pain, suggesting a correlation between the
two parameters.
This study appears to be
the first or one of very few to investigate lower limb pain in drivers with
the aim of differentiating the side of pain using an objective physical
measurement.