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We examine the postural profile and muscular forces of the trunk and inferior members of patients with chronic low back pain.In this study, we include 60 subjects forming two groups: a first group (G1) of 30 patients with chronic low back pain and a second group (G2) of 30 healthy subjects. Every subject profited from an isokinetic evaluation of the muscular forces of the trunk (at 60 and 90°.s(-1)) and knees (at 60 and 120°.s(-1)) and of a postural evaluation. The isokinetic evaluation was carried out using Cybex(®) Norm II dynamometer with its Trunk Extension/Flexion (TEF) module set in concentric mode. The parameter under study was the torque peak. The postural evaluation was accomplished using the platform SATEL for the balance analysis associated with four conditions: static on stable plan open eyes (OE) then closed eyes (CE) and static on unstable plan OE then CE. The parameters under study were the averages of the total lengths, total surfaces, and the X and Y means.The averages of the torque peaks of the trunk flexor and extensor muscles at the speeds of 60 and 90°.s(-1) were inferior in group G1 as compared to G2. The differences were statistically insignificant only for the extensor muscles (p0.005). The averages of the torque peaks of the knee flexors and extensors at 60 and 120°.s(-1) were the lowest in group G1. The differences were significant (p0.05). The averages of postural parameters were more important in group G1, indicating a postural deficit in this group.We showed deficits of the posture and muscles of the trunk and knees of patients with chronic lumbar pain. The muscular deficit of the trunk predominates on extensors.

Objective To study the acute effect of static and dynamic stretching on the knee muscle strength and postural capacity in athletes. Patients and methods Fifteen judokas performed 2 stretching protocols (static and dynamic) on the muscles of both lower limbs with an interval of 48 hours in a random order. An evaluation of the dominant knee muscle strength with an isokinetic dynamometer CybexNormII was performed before and after each stretching protocol in a concentric mode at a speed of 60 and 180°/s. Each athlete was evaluated on the Satel ® plateform in static conditions open and closed eyes in the two trials. This evaluation was performed after a standard warm-up protocol (5 minutes on a bicycle ergometer) and a minute after the stretching protocol. The parameters were monitored: mediolateral (Long X) anterior-posterior deviations (Long Y) of the plantar center of pressure and the total area. Results Five judokas, with mean age of 21.3 ± 2.3 years, mean height of 177.8 ± 8.8 cm, and mean weight of 74.6 ± 14.6 kg participated in this study. We objectified an increase in the mean peak torque (PC) after the dynamic stretching protocol compared to the initial assessment at the speed of 60°/s in both the flexor ( P P = 0.005) muscles. Furthermore, we found a decrease in the PC after the static stretching protocol at the same speed with a statistically significant difference in both flexor ( P P Discussion/Conclusion On one hand, this study confirms the value of dynamic muscle stretching on the gain of the isokinetic strength of the knee muscles. On the other hand, a deterioration of the postural following capacity after both static and dynamic stretching was observed.

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the relations between isokinetic muscle strength of the knee, postural profile and physical function in knee osteoarthritis patients. Material/Patients and methods We included patients with advanced unilateral osteoarthritis (grades III or IV graded radiographically by Lawrence classification). We assessed functional impairment by the WOMAC score in its Arabic version, the strength of the knee muscles by isokinetic dynamometry and postural profile via the Satel ® platform in bipodal and monopodal conditions in open and closed eyes. The parameters were monitored: mediolateral (Long X) and anterior-posterior deviations (Long Y) of plantar center of pressure. Results Twenty patients with the mean age of 55.9 ± 13.0 years were evaluated. We objectified the decrease rating of isokinetic strength parameters of symptomatically knee compared to the healthy side. The mean of peak torque of the knee flexor was 46.3 ± 29.3 Nm on the symptomatic side, against 49.1 ± 34.9 on the healthy side ( P = 0.2). The mean of peak torque of the knee extensor was 61.8 ± 33.8 Nm on the symptomatic side, against 76.4 ± 47.0 Nm on the healthy side ( P = 0.04). We objectified increased postural parameters in monopodal stance on the symptomatic side compared to the healthy side in two conditions open and closed eyes. The average of the Long X in monopodal were respectively 917.1 ± 192.9 and 1472.4 ± 485.2 mm in open and closed eyes conditions of the symptomatic side and 886.8 ± 195.6 and 1303.9 ± 423.0 mm on the healthy side ( P = 0.2). The mean of The WOMAC score was 11.2 ± 3.9. A moderate correlation ( r = −0.54, P = 0.03) between the peak torque of the extensor at 60°/s and long X in monopodal stance in the symptomatic side was objectified. The correlations found between isokinetic strength and functional parameters were low. Discussion/Conclusion A deficit of the symptomatic knee muscles was objectified in our patients. The relations between the muscular and postural parameters were found. The one with the functional capacity was low.