The Loose Back: An Unrecognized Syndrome

A prospective study of 102 cases of backache with particular regard to the presence of ligamentous laxity is reported. Among the 59 men there was no excess of cases showing unusual spinal or peripheral joint mobility; nearly all had features of disc lesions, spondylolysis, spondylosis, or spondylitis. In contrast, only half of the 43 women could be diagnosed as suffering from these conditions, while the majority of the remainder showed central and peripheral hypermobility. The clinical features of the “loose back syndrome” are outlined. It is suggested that this is an important differential diagnosis of backache in women.