Chronic low back pain and back muscle activity during functional tasks

Objective The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of a novel supported dynamic lumbar extension with the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) technique on stature change, deep abdominal muscle activity, trunk muscle fatigue, and pain intensity during prolonged sitting in chronic low back pain (CLBP) participants. Background Prolonged sitting can cause trunk muscle fatigue from continuous contraction of deep trunk muscles in seated postures. Deficiency of activity of deep muscles can reduce muscular support of the spine, causing stress on spinal structures, which could result in pain. Method Thirty participants with CLBP were randomly allocated: (a) control—sitting without exercise, and (b) intervention—supported dynamic lumbar extension with the ADIM technique. Results Compared to the intervention condition, the control condition demonstrated significantly greater deterioration in stature change, increased levels of deep trunk muscle fatigue, and an increase in pain during prolonged sitting. Conclusion The supported dynamic lumbar extension with the ADIM technique appears to provide a protective effect on detrimental stature change and deep trunk muscle fatigue. In addition, it prevented an increase in pain intensity during prolonged sitting in people with CLBP. Application Sedentary behavior harms health, particularly affecting the lower back. Clinicians can use the intervention to induce dynamic lumbar movement, and this exercise can maintain deep trunk muscle activity during prolonged sitting, thereby helping to prevent low back pain (LBP) problems.

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Age- and sex-specific effects in paravertebral surface electromyographic back extensor muscle fatigue in chronic low back pain

GeroScience ◽

10.1007/s11357-019-00134-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 251-269 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gerold Ebenbichler ◽

Richard Habenicht ◽

Sara Ziegelbecker ◽

Josef Kollmitzer ◽

Patrick Mair ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Muscle Fatigue ◽

Chronic Low Back Pain ◽

Median Frequency ◽

Low Back ◽

Back Muscle ◽

The Impact ◽

Back Extensor ◽

Age And Sex

AbstractThe impact of aging on the back muscles is not well understood, yet may hold clues to both normal aging and chronic low back pain (cLBP). This study sought to investigate whether the median frequency (MF) surface electromyographic (SEMG) back muscle fatigue method—a proxy for glycolytic muscle metabolism—would be able to detect age- and sex-specific differences in neuromuscular and muscle metabolic functions in individuals with cLBP in a reliable way, and whether it would be as sensitive as when used on healthy individuals. With participants seated on a dynamometer (20° trunk anteflexion), paraspinal SEMG activity was recorded bilaterally from the multifidus (L5), longissimus (L2), and iliolumbalis (L1) muscles during isometric, sustained back extensions loaded at 80% of maximum from 117 younger (58 females) and 112 older (56 female) cLBP individuals. Tests were repeated after 1–2 days and 6 weeks. Median frequency, the SEMG variable indicating neuromuscular fatigue, was analyzed. Maximum back extensor strength was comparable between younger and older participants. Significantly less MF-SEMG back muscle fatigue was observed in older as compared to younger, and in older female as compared to older male cLBP individuals. Relative reliability was excellent, but absolute reliability appeared large for this SEMG-fatigue measure. Findings suggest that cLBP likely does not mask the age-specific diagnostic potential of the MF-SEMG back extensor fatigue method. Thus, this method possesses a great potential to be further developed into a valuable biomarker capable of detecting back muscle function at risk of sarcopenia at very early stages.

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Exploring Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Intensity Effects on Multifidus Muscle Activity in Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain: An Ultrasound Imaging–Informed Investigation

Clinical Medicine Insights Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

10.1177/1179544119849570 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 117954411984957 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jaclyn Megan Sions ◽

DeJ’a Chyanna Crippen ◽

Gregory Evan Hicks ◽

Abdulmohsen Meshari Alroumi ◽

Tara Jo Manal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Chronic Low Back Pain ◽

Muscle Activity ◽

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation ◽

Low Back ◽

High Tolerance ◽

Multifidus Muscle ◽

Thickness Change

Study design: Cross-sectional study. Background: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is an effective tool for stimulating multifidus muscle contractions. Ultrasound imaging (USI) is valid and reliable for quantifying multifidus activity represented by percent thickness change from a resting to contracted state. Thus, USI may be used to help determine optimal NMES intensity. Objectives: To explore NMES intensity effects on multifidus thickening in adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: Sixty patients with CLBP participated. L4/5 multifidus ultrasound images were obtained and percent thickness change from a resting to a contracted state was determined at baseline with a limb lift and during NMES application. During NMES, the examiner recorded the intensity, in milliampere, when the multifidus first started to thicken as observed with USI. The examiner also recorded the NMES intensity that resulted in no further multifidus thickening (ie, high-tolerance group) or, in cases where maximal thickening was not observed, the NMES intensity of the submaximal contraction (ie, low-tolerance group). Differences between participants with high versus low NMES tolerance were evaluated. Results: During NMES, the multifidus began thickening at a higher intensity for the high-tolerance group (n = 39), that is, 34 mA, compared with the low-tolerance group (n = 21), that is, 32 mA ( P = .001). A greater mean intensity in the high-tolerance group, that is, 62 mA, as compared to 45 mA in the low-tolerance group, resulted in a larger percent thickness change, that is, 30.89% compared to 20.60%, respectively ( P < .001). Conclusions: Results provide clinicians with NMES intensity targets to facilitate multifidus muscle thickening, which provides insight into muscle activity.

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