Utility of inertial measurement units for assessment of spinal and pelvic kinematics in people with low back pain

ObjectivesTo investigate spinal kinematics, tibial and sacral impacts during fast bowling, among bowlers with a history of low back pain (LBP) (retrospective) and bowlers who developed LBP in the follow-up season (prospective).Methods35 elite male fast bowlers; senior (n=14; age=24.1±4.3 years; height=1.89±0.05 m; weight=89.2±4.6 kg) and junior (n=21; age=16.9±0.7; height=1.81±0.05; weight=73.0±9.2 kg) were recruited from professional county cricket clubs. LBP history was gathered by questionnaire and development of LBP was monitored for the follow-up season. Spinal kinematics, tibial and sacral impacts were captured using inertial measurement units placed over S1, L1, T1 and anteromedial tibia. Bonferroni corrected pairwise comparisons and effect sizes were calculated to investigate differences in retrospective and prospective LBP groups.ResultsApproximately 38% of juniors (n=8) and 57% of seniors (n=8) reported a history of LBP. No differences were evident in spinal kinematics or impacts between those with LBP history and those without for seniors and juniors. Large effect sizes suggest greater rotation during wind-up (d=1.3) and faster time-to-peak tibial impacts (d=1.5) in those with no history of LBP. One junior (5%) and four (29%) seniors developed LBP. No differences were evident in spinal kinematics or impacts between those who developed LBP and those who did not for seniors. In seniors, those who developed LBP had lower tibial impacts (d=1.3) and greater lumbar extension (d=1.9) during delivery.ConclusionRetrospective analysis displayed non-significant differences in kinematics and impacts. It is unclear if these are adaptive or impairments. Prospective analysis demonstrated large effect sizes for lumbar extension during bowling suggesting a target for future coaching interventions.

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Application of inertial measurement units for directly measuring occupational exposure to non-neutral postures of the low back and shoulder

10.17077/etd.orlp9g1i ◽

2014 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mark Christopher Schall

Keyword(s):

Occupational Exposure ◽

Low Back ◽

Inertial Measurement Units ◽

Inertial Measurement ◽

Measurement Units

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Motion analysis and estimation of muscle activation related to the low back pain of pregnant women by using an inertial measurement unit

The Proceedings of the Dynamics & Design Conference ◽

10.1299/jsmedmc.2018.513 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 (0) ◽

pp. 513

Author(s):

Saori MORINO ◽

Fumiko UMEZAKI ◽

Hiroko HATANAKA ◽

Mamoru YAMASHITA ◽

Masaki TAKAHASHII

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Motion Analysis ◽

Inertial Measurement Unit ◽

Muscle Activation ◽

Measurement Unit ◽

Low Back ◽

Inertial Measurement

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Assessment of Motion and Muscle Activation Impacts on Low Back Pain during Pregnancy Using an Inertial Measurement Unit

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app10113690 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 3690

Author(s):

Saori Morino ◽

Mamoru Yamashita ◽

Fumiko Umezaki ◽

Hiroko Hatanaka ◽

Masaki Takahashi

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Inertial Measurement Unit ◽

Muscle Activation ◽

Sagittal Plane ◽

Erector Spinae ◽

Measurement Unit ◽

Low Back ◽

Inertial Measurement

Specific physiological changes during pregnancy exert excessive strain on muscles such as the erector spinae (ES) and contribute to low back pain (LBP). The link between LBP and sit-to-stand (STS) motion has previously been investigated through motion analysis using an inertial measurement unit (IMU); however, the factors leading to LBP have not been revealed. Moreover, clinicians require an effective assessment method for reducing the physical burden on pregnant women. Therefore, the investigation of the relationships between motion, muscle load calculated from musculoskeletal model for pregnancy, and the severity of LBP during STS in pregnant women was conducted. Furthermore, this study proposes a method for assessing motion and muscle load during STS using an IMU. The relationship among (i) motion evaluation indices and ES muscle torque, and (ii) the ES torque and the intensity of LBP during STS was investigated. As the results, significant positive correlations were observed between (i) the angular velocity of the torso in the sagittal plane and ES torque, and (ii) two types of evaluation indices of ES torque and intensity of LBP. The proposed method by an IMU attached to the torso could effectively assess ES load related to LBP during STS in pregnant women.

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