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Is Hip Muscle Flexibility Associated with Low Back Pain Among First-Year Undergraduate Students?
Janan Abbas1, Noa Reif1, Kamal Hamoud1
1Department of Physical Therapy, Zefat Academic College, Zefat 13206, Israel.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|January 8, 2025
Summary
This study found that while most students have normal hip muscle length, increased hamstring length may be linked to low back pain (LBP). Female students showed greater muscle flexibility.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Musculoskeletal Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Hip muscle length is crucial for lumbar spine and lower extremity function.
- Tightness in hamstring and iliopsoas muscles is correlated with low back pain (LBP).
- Undergraduates are susceptible to LBP due to prolonged sitting and poor posture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between hip muscle lengthening and low back pain in undergraduate students.
- To assess the prevalence of normal hamstring and iliopsoas muscle length in this population.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive study involving 70 undergraduate students.
- Measurement of hamstring and iliopsoas muscle length.
- Utilized a questionnaire to gather data on study habits and stress levels.
Main Results:
- A majority of participants exhibited normal hamstring (80%) and iliopsoas (96%) muscle lengthening.
- Female students demonstrated significantly higher muscle flexibility.
- Logistic regression indicated that right hamstring lengthening and stress related to studies are significantly associated with LBP.
Conclusions:
- Hip muscle length appears to be influenced by sex, with females exhibiting greater flexibility.
- Right and left muscle lengths are generally symmetrical.
- Increased hamstring length is a potential contributing factor to low back pain in this demographic.
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