Abdominal Wall Evaluation in Low Back Pain

Deep Abdominal Wall Muscle Dysfunction During Calm Respiration in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients

The purpose of this study was to evaluate feed-forward contraction of the transversus abdominis and thickness of the transversus abdominis, obliquus internus, and obliquus externus during calm and standardized respiration in low back pain patients and pain-free subjects.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Abnormally Decreased Muscle Contraction

Detailed Description

Low back pain patients have alterations in abdominal wall function, especially in the feed-forward activation of transversus muscle during limbs movements. However, there are no reports on the abdominal function in low back pain patients during physiological respiratory movement.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 39

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Brazil
  • São Paulo, Brazil, 05403-000
    • Physical Therapy, Speech and Occupational Therapy Department, School of Medicine: University of São Paulo, Brazil

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 60 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Community sample

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• For the low back pain group: women with history of non-specific chronic low back pain for more than three months
• For the pain-free group: pain-free women

Exclusion Criteria:

• For both groups were: pregnancy, neurological condition, obesity (body mass index: BMI >30), or previous spine or abdominal surgery.
• For the low back pain group: rheumatology diseases other than low back pain.
• For the pain-free group: any rheumatology disease.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Nineteen women with low back pain
Twenty pain-free women

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Sao Paulo General Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Clarice Tanaka, PhD, Full Professor - Department of Physical Therapy, Communication Science & Disorders, Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine - USP; Study Chair: Patricia R Patarro, Physical Therapy, Speech and Occupational Therapy Department, School of Medicine: University of São Paulo, Brazil; Study Chair: Renato A Sernik, Institute of Radiology, School of Medicine: University of São Paulo, Brazil; Study Chair: Débora M Meira, Physical Therapy, Speech and Occupational Therapy Department, School of Medicine: University of São Paulo, Brazil; Study Chair: América C Fracini, Physical Therapy, Speech and Occupational Therapy Department, School of Medicine: University of São Paulo, Brazil; Study Chair: Cássio M Siqueira, Physical Therapy, Speech and Occupational Therapy Department, School of Medicine: University of São Paulo, Brazil

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 1, 2009
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2010
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 6, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 6, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): December 8, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): December 8, 2011
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 6, 2011
• Last Verified: December 1, 2011

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Back Pain; Low Back Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: FRACINI