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Lumbar and abdominal muscle activity during walking in subjects with chronic low back pain: support of the "guarding" hypothesis?
- Source :
-
Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology [J Electromyogr Kinesiol] 2010 Feb; Vol. 20 (1), pp. 31-8. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- It has been hypothesized that changes in trunk muscle activity in chronic low back pain (CLBP) reflect an underlying "guarding" mechanism, which will manifest itself as increased superficial abdominal - and lumbar muscle activity. During a functional task like walking, it may be further provoked at higher walking velocities. The purpose of this cross sectional study was to investigate whether subjects with CLBP show increased co-activation of superficial abdominal - and lumbar muscles during walking on a treadmill, when compared to asymptomatic controls. Sixty-three subjects with CLBP and 33 asymptomatic controls walked on a treadmill at different velocities. Surface electromyography data of the erector spinae, rectus abdominis and obliquus abdominis externus muscles were obtained and averaged per stride. Results show that, compared to asymptomatic controls, subjects with CLBP have increased muscle activity of the erector spinae and rectus abdominis, but not of the obliquus abdominis externus. These differences in trunk muscle activity between groups do not increase with higher walking velocities. In conclusion, the observed increased trunk muscle activity in subjects with CLBP during walking supports the guarding hypothesis.
- Subjects :
- Abdominal Muscles physiopathology
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Chronic Disease
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Young Adult
Algorithms
Back physiology
Electromyography methods
Low Back Pain physiopathology
Muscle Contraction
Muscle Fatigue
Muscle, Skeletal physiopathology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-5711
- Volume :
- 20
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 19683459
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2009.03.009