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Related Experiment Videos

Multifidus spasms elicited by prolonged lumbar flexion.

M Williams1, M Solomonow, B H Zhou

  • 1Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.

Spine
|November 14, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Prolonged spinal flexion causes loss of muscle stabilization and leads to spasms. This study in cats demonstrates how sustained postures can trigger low back pain mechanisms.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Neuroscience
  • Orthopedics

Background:

  • Epidemiological data link prolonged spinal loading to low back pain and muscle spasms.
  • Experimental evidence directly connecting prolonged loading to decreased spinal stability and pain was lacking.
  • Hypothesized that mechanoreceptors in spinal viscoelastic structures reflexively activate multifidus muscles for stability, with activity decreasing under sustained strain.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of prolonged spinal flexion on multifidus muscle activity.
  • To demonstrate the link between viscoelastic structure laxity and loss of reflexive muscular stabilization.
  • To explore the development of muscular disorders associated with low back pain.

Main Methods:

  • Recorded electromyograms (EMG) from L1-L7 multifidus muscles in vivo cats.

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  • Applied prolonged steady lumbar spine flexion (50 minutes) via the L4-L5 supraspinous ligament.
  • Utilized control preparations without flexion for comparison.

    • Main Results:

    • Initial reflexive EMG activity in multifidus muscles decreased to ~5% within 3 minutes due to tension-relaxation.
    • Recorded random, high-amplitude EMG discharges (spasms) at various multifidus muscle levels.
    • Spasms occurred unpredictably during loading and up to 20 minutes post-loading, also affecting spinalis and longissimus muscles.

    Conclusions:

    • Prolonged lumbar spine flexion induces tension-relaxation and laxity in viscoelastic structures.
    • Reflexive muscular activity is lost within 3 minutes of sustained flexion.
    • EMG-detected spasms occur in multifidus and other posterior spinal muscles, potentially contributing to low back pain.