Article

Although sneezing is known to induce low back pain, there is no
objective data of the load generated when sneezing. Moreover, the approaches
often recommended for reducing low back pain, such as leaning with both hands
against a wall, are not supported by objective evidence.
METHODS: Participants
were 12 healthy young men (mean age 23.25 +/- 1.54 years) with no history of
spinal column pain or low back pain. Measurements were taken using a
three-dimensional motion capture system and surface electromyograms in three
experimental conditions: normal for sneezing, characterized by forward trunk
inclination; stand, in which the body was deliberately maintained in an upright
posture when sneezing; and table, in which the participants leaned with both
hands on a table when sneezing. We analyzed and compared the intervertebral disk
compressive force, low back moment, ground reaction force, trunk inclination
angle, and co-contraction of the rectus abdominis and erector spinae muscles in
the three conditions. FINDINGS: The intervertebral disk compressive force and
ground reaction force were significantly lower in the stand and table conditions
than in the normal condition. The co-contraction index value was significantly
higher in the stand condition than in the normal and table conditions.
INTERPRETATION: When sneezing, body posture in the stand or table condition can
reduce load on the low back compared with body posture in the normal sneezing
condition. Thus, placing both hands on a table or otherwise maintaining an
upright body posture appears to be beneficial for reducing low back load when
sneezing.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS