People With Low Back Pain Exhibit Higher Trunk Muscle Activity and Impaired Postural Control During Static and...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Science
• Kinesiology

Background:

• Nonspecific chronic low back pain (LBP) affects a significant portion of the population.
• Understanding trunk muscle activity and postural control is crucial for effective LBP management.
• An active extension subgroup (AE-NSCLBP) may exhibit distinct motor control patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare trunk muscle activity and postural control in individuals with AE-NSCLBP versus pain-free controls.
• To investigate these parameters during various functional tasks.
• To identify specific conditions exacerbating differences between groups.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-two participants (17 with LBP, 15 controls) were studied.
• Electromyography recorded activity of 5 trunk muscles.
• Postural control was assessed using time-to-boundary during standing and dynamic tasks.

Main Results:

• AE-NSCLBP individuals exhibited higher trunk muscle activity during single-leg standing, particularly with eyes closed.
• Postural control was significantly impaired in AE-NSCLBP individuals in 4 of 8 conditions, notably during single-leg stance and eyes-closed conditions.
• No significant differences in muscle activity were found during double-leg standing, sit-to-stand, or forward flexion tasks.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with LBP demonstrate altered trunk muscle activation and reduced postural control, especially under higher postural demand.
• These motor control deficits are more pronounced during challenging tasks like single-leg standing or when visual input is limited.
• Findings suggest targeted rehabilitation approaches focusing on muscle activation and postural stability are warranted for LBP management.