Article

People with a history of low back pain (LBP) are at high risk to encounter
additional LBP episodes. During LBP remission, altered trunk muscle control has
been suggested to negatively impact spinal health. As sudden LBP onset is
commonly reported during trunk flexion, the aim of the current study is to
investigate whether dynamic trunk muscle recruitment is altered in LBP remission.
Eleven people in remission of recurrent LBP and 14 pain free controls performed
cued trunk flexion during a loaded and unloaded condition. Electromyographic
activity was recorded from paraspinal (lumbar and thoracic erector spinae,
latissimus dorsi, deep and superficial multifidus) and abdominal muscles
(obliquus internus, externus and rectus abdominis) with surface and fine-wire
electrodes. LBP participants exhibited higher levels of co-contraction of
flexor/extensor muscles, lower agonistic abdominal and higher antagonistic
paraspinal muscle activity than controls, both when data were analyzed in grouped
and individual muscle behavior. A sub-analysis in people with unilateral LBP (n =
6) pointed to opposing changes in deep and superficial multifidus in relation to
the pain side. These results suggest that dynamic trunk muscle control is
modified during LBP remission, and might possibly increase spinal load and result
in earlier muscle fatigue due to intensified muscle usage. These negative
consequences for spinal health could possibly contribute to recurrence of LBP.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS