Isabelle Pagé1, François Nougarou2, Martin Descarreaux3. 1. Département d'anatomie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 boul. des Forges, Trois-Rivières, Québec G9A 5H7, Canada. Electronic address: Isabelle.Page1@uqtr.ca. 2. Département des sciences de l'activité physique, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 boul. des Forges, Trois-Rivières, Québec G9A 5H7, Canada. Electronic address: Francois.Nougarou@gmail.com. 3. Département des sciences de l'activité physique, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 boul. des Forges, Trois-Rivières, Québec G9A 5H7, Canada. Electronic address: Martin.Descarreaux@uqtr.ca.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The present study aimed to compare the neuromuscular response under various mechanical stimulations of the lumbar spine in participants with and without chronic low back pain (cLBP). METHODS: Four mechanical stimulations, characterized by forces ranging from 75 to 225N, were delivered using a servo-controlled linear actuator motor to the L3 spinous process of 25 healthy participants and 26 participants with cLBP. Lumbar neuromuscular responses were recorded using 64-electrodes large surface electromyography arrays. Between-group differences in the dose-response relationship (neuromuscular response amplitude according to each force level) were assessed using mixed model ANOVAs. RESULTS: No differences between groups were shown (all p values>.05). A significant linear relationship was observed between forces and neuromuscular response amplitudes (p<.001) indicating an increase in response amplitudes with increasing stimulation force. Responses were observed throughout the lumbar region with highest response amplitudes in the vicinity of the contacted vertebra. CONCLUSION: The neuromuscular response amplitude triggered by localized lumbar mechanical stimulations does not differ between participants with and without cLBP. Moreover, even though stimulations were delivered at specific spinal segment, a neuromuscular response, although rapidly decreasing, was observed in areas distant from the contact site.
PURPOSE: The present study aimed to compare the neuromuscular response under various mechanical stimulations of the lumbar spine in participants with and without chronic low back pain (cLBP). METHODS: Four mechanical stimulations, characterized by forces ranging from 75 to 225N, were delivered using a servo-controlled linear actuator motor to the L3 spinous process of 25 healthy participants and 26 participants with cLBP. Lumbar neuromuscular responses were recorded using 64-electrodes large surface electromyography arrays. Between-group differences in the dose-response relationship (neuromuscular response amplitude according to each force level) were assessed using mixed model ANOVAs. RESULTS: No differences between groups were shown (all p values>.05). A significant linear relationship was observed between forces and neuromuscular response amplitudes (p<.001) indicating an increase in response amplitudes with increasing stimulation force. Responses were observed throughout the lumbar region with highest response amplitudes in the vicinity of the contacted vertebra. CONCLUSION: The neuromuscular response amplitude triggered by localized lumbar mechanical stimulations does not differ between participants with and without cLBP. Moreover, even though stimulations were delivered at specific spinal segment, a neuromuscular response, although rapidly decreasing, was observed in areas distant from the contact site.
Authors: Joaquín Calatayud; Adrian Escriche-Escuder; Carlos Cruz-Montecinos; Lars L Andersen; Sofía Pérez-Alenda; Ramón Aiguadé; José Casaña Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-09-20 Impact factor: 3.390