Multidimensional Profiles of Recovery: Using Correspondence Analysis to Visualize Physiotherapy Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain
J Clin Med. 2026 Mar 18;15(6):2305. doi: 10.3390/jcm15062305.
ABSTRACT
Background: This longitudinal study examined the clinical outcomes of physiotherapy interventions in patients with chronic low back pain, specifically observing the interactions between demographic characteristics, physical metrics, and psychological variables.
Methods: A cohort of n = 150 patients, Final n = 123 (18% attrition rate), was assessed using a one-group pre-test/post-test design, with primary outcome measures including Health-Related Quality of Life, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Numerical Pain Rating Scale. Participants received eight standardized sessions over 4 weeks, including electro-physical agents combined with individualized kinesiotherapy. Data analysis/synthesis was performed via Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) to map associations between categorical variables and treatment responses.
Results: The predominant clinical profile found was a middle-aged female with moderate educational attainment, presenting with a Body Mass Index in the overweight range and moderate-to-high baseline pain intensity. MCA revealed distinct phenotypic trends: longer Work Experience was associated with lower baseline Quality of Life (QoL) and heightened stress/pain levels. In contrast, patients characterized by higher education and significant Work Experience demonstrated notable post-intervention QoL gains. High baseline QoL served as a predictor for sustained improvement and pain attenuation, while elevated pre-intervention pain scores were consistently linked to perceived unmet clinical needs and exacerbated stress.
Conclusions: MCA successfully mapped non-linear clusters-such as the "Socio-Psychological Barrier" profile-that traditional univariate methods fail to visualize, suggesting that "individualized care" must prioritize health literacy among patients experiencing extensive work-related strain.
PMID:41899229 | DOI:10.3390/jcm15062305