Trunk coordination in healthy and chronic nonspecific low back pain subjects during repetitive flexion–extension tasks: Effects of movement asymmetry, velocity and load

• Published in: Human movement science Vol. 45; pp. 182 - 192
• Main Authors: Mokhtarinia, Hamid Reza, Sanjari, Mohammad Ali, Chehrehrazi, Mahshid, Kahrizi, Sedigheh, Parnianpour, Mohamad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.02.2016
• Subjects: Adult; Back Pain - physiopathology; Back Pain - rehabilitation; Biomechanical Phenomena - physiology; Biomechanics; Continuous relative phase; Deviation phase; Dynamical systems; Female; Functional Laterality - physiology; Humans; Kinematics; Lumbar Vertebrae - physiopathology; Male; Pelvis - physiopathology; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Reaction Time - physiology; Weight-Bearing - physiology; Young Adult; Biomechanics; Continuous relative phase; Dynamical systems; Deviation phase; Kinematics
• ISSN: 0167-9457; 1872-7646
• DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2015.11.007

•Lumbar–pelvis coordination was more phase-locked in CNSLBP subjects.•Coordination variability was lower during asymmetric/high velocity conditions in CNSLBP.•CNSLBP subjects were not as variable as controls during no-load conditions.•Coordination variability was higher during asymmetric and low velocity conditions. Multiple joint interactions are critical to produce stable coordinated movements and can be influenced by low back pain and task conditions. Inter-segmental coordination pattern and variability were assessed in subjects with and without chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP). Kinematic data were collected from 22 CNSLBP and 22 healthy volunteers during repeated trunk flexion–extension in various conditions of symmetry, velocity, and loading; each at two levels. Sagittal plane angular data were time normalized and used to calculate continuous relative phase for each data point. Mean absolute relative phase (MARP) and deviation phase (DP) were derived to quantify lumbar–pelvis and pelvis–thigh coordination patterns and variability. Statistical analysis revealed more in-phase coordination pattern in CNSLBP (p=0.005). There was less adaptation in the DP for the CNSLBP group, as shown by interactions of Group by Load (p=.008) and Group by Symmetry by Velocity (p=.03) for the DP of pelvis–thigh and lumbar–pelvis couplings, respectively. Asymmetric (p<0.001) and loaded (p=0.04) conditions caused less in-phase coordination. Coordination variability was higher during asymmetric and low velocity conditions (p<0.001). In conclusion, coordination pattern and variability could be influenced by trunk flexion–extension conditions. CNSLBP subjects demonstrated less adaptability of movement pattern to the demands of the flexion–extension task.