Static and Dynamic Motor Control in Active Young Adults: Associations with Oswestry Disability Index and Functional Movement Screen Asymmetries

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability, particularly in young adults. Decreased trunk endurance and altered movement patterns have been associated with lumbar symptoms and functional limitations; however, their concurrent relationships in active populations with minimal disability remain insufficiently characterized. This study was designed as an exploratory cross-sectional analytical study. Methods: The sample comprised 71 physically active university students (mean age, ~23 years; 79% men). Trunk endurance was assessed using the McGill isometric tests, and selected movement-pattern measures were obtained from four Functional Movement Screen (FMS) tasks focused on lumbopelvic control. The total FMS score was calculated, asymmetries were recorded in the Inline Lunge and Rotary Stability tasks, and lumbar-related disability was measured using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Associations were analyzed using correlations and adjusted linear regression, and asymmetry-based comparisons were evaluated using non-parametric tests. Results: The average ODI was very low (approximately 4%), suggesting a floor effect. Greater trunk endurance was associated with lower ODI values, whereas the association between total FMS and ODI was weak and did not reach statistical significance in the adjusted model. Inline Lunge asymmetry was associated with higher ODI values, but this finding should be interpreted cautiously because of the very small subgroup size. Conclusions: In this physically active young adult sample, trunk endurance and selected movement-pattern measures provided complementary descriptive information on lumbar-related function; however, the observed associations were modest and should be interpreted cautiously.