Relative Stiffness of Lumbar Spine and Hamstrings Muscle Stretching

Effect of Increased Relative Stiffness of Lumbar Spine on Hamstrings Muscle Stretching in Individuals With History of Low Back Pain Suspected to Have a Clinical Lumbar Instability

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of lumbopelvic stabilization on hamstrings muscle stretching in individuals with history of low back pain suspected to have a clinical lumbar instability.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Back Pain; Instability Lumbar Spine; Muscle Tightness
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Lumbopelvic stiffening technique; Other: Lumbopelvic relaxing technique

Detailed Description

The participants between the age of 20 and 40 years with history of low back pain will be recruited from Mahidol University using a poster posted at Faculty of Physical Therapy. All participants will be explained the purposes, advantages, disadvantages and procedures of the study by the researcher. The participant will be asked to sign an informed consent if the participants are willing to participate in this study.

After obtaining the written informed consent, the researcher, who works in musculoskeletal system including low back pain for 7 years and has received 3 training sessions on clinical observation of aberrant movement, will perform 2 clinical tests including clinical observation of aberrant movement patterns and passive straight leg raising test to identify clinical lumbar instability, and measure hamstrings muscle length using clinical motion analysis system. The researcher will also screen for exclusion criteria using a check list.

For those who are qualified for the study, the participants will be asked to fill out the demographic data and physical activity questionnaire. The researcher will perform additional clinical examination including modified Thomas test, back extensor muscle strength test assessed by a handheld dynamometer, Trendelenburg's test and lumbar stability test. After clinical tests, lumbopelvic, pelvic, and lumbar range of motions during an active forward bend task will be measured by using the clinical motion analysis system. These outcome measures will be assessed for baseline (Pre-1). After baseline data collection, the participants will be divided into 2 groups; lumbopelvic stiffening group (LS) or lumbopelvic relaxing group (LR) by randomly generated code in a concealed envelope.

The participants in LS group will stretch the hamstrings muscle in standing position with lumbopelvic stabilization. Fifteen percent of the body weight will be used to standardize stretching force. This force will be controlled by visual feedback from load cell. During stretching protocol, the participants will be instructed to face the hydraulic table with the hips square, maintain trunk straight up and look straight ahead. Researcher commands "during adjusting the bed up, please tense the lower back rigid". After that, hydraulic bed will be lifted up until force reaches 15 percent of the body weight. Participant will perform 30 seconds/repetition for 4 repetitions with 15 seconds rest between repetitions. To ensure that participant correctly performs lumbopelvic stabilization, the researcher will palpate at ASIS and iliac crest to check pelvic motion during hamstrings muscle stretching. Pelvic motion indicates loss of lumbopelvic stabilization. Participant will be asked to re-perform another repetition. Our protocol is based on a previous study by DePino et al., 2000. Participant will perform 30 seconds/repetition for 4 repetitions with 15 seconds rest between repetitions. The investigators use 30 seconds because a systematic review suggests that 30 seconds is the most effective dose for hamstrings muscle stretching.

For the participants in LR group, the participants will be instructed to face the hydraulic table with the hips square, maintain trunk straight up and look straight ahead. The researcher commands "During adjusting the bed up, please relax the lower back". The hydraulic bed will be lifted up until force reaches 15 percent of the body weight. Participant will perform 30 seconds/repetition for 4 repetitions with 15 seconds rest between repetitions.

After the intervention, the participants will be reassessed for hamstrings muscle length test, lumbar motion, pelvic motion and total lumbopelvic motion (Post-1). Because this study uses a cross-over study design, participants will be asked to maintain the usual physical activity for 2 days as a wash-out period. Then, the participants will be re-assessed for baseline data (Pre-2), and cross-over to another stretching group (LS changes to LR, while LR changes to LS). After completion of intervention, the participants will be re-assessed for post-intervention (Post-2). These to determine the effectiveness of lumbopelvic stabilization during hamstrings stretching in standing.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 32
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Thailand
  • Nakhon Pathom
    • Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, 73170
      • Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 40 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Between the ages of 20 and 40
2. A recurrent pattern of LBP at least two episodes that interfered with activities of daily living and/or required treatment
3. Presenting aberrant movement pattern during active forward bend test
4. Passive straight leg raising test (SLR) greater than 91 degrees
5. Having hamstrings muscle tightness of both legs (passive knee extension in supine with 90° hip flexion position greater than 20 degrees)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Having a history of abdominal, back surgery and/or fracture.
2. Having any red flags, such as infection, tumor, fracture, radicular syndrome, or inflammatory.
3. Pregnancy or having menstruation.
4. Having spinal deformities, such as scoliosis.
5. Having neurological, musculoskeletal or cardiopulmonary diseases.
6. Previously receiving physical therapy intervention involving in motor control training.
7. Taking muscle relaxant medication.
8. Having hip joint stiffness or pain
9. Having positive Trendelenburg's sign.
10. Currently having routine vigorous exercise.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Lumbopelvic stiffening technique; Hamstring muscle stretching with lumbopelvic stiffening technique.	Other: Lumbopelvic stiffening technique; Participants will stretch their hamstrings muscle in standing position with lumbopelvic stiffening technique. Fifteen percent of the body weight will be used to standardize stretching force. During stretching protocol, the participants will be instructed to face the hydraulic table with their hips square, maintain trunk straight up and look straight ahead. Researcher commands "during adjusting the bed up, please tense your back rigid". After that, hydraulic bed will be lifted up until force reaches 15 percent of the body weight. Participant will perform 30 seconds/repetition for 4 repetitions with 15 seconds rest between repetitions.; Other: Lumbopelvic relaxing technique; Participants will be instructed to face the hydraulic table with their hips square, maintain trunk straight up and look straight ahead. The researcher commands "During adjusting the bed up, please relax your back". The hydraulic bed will be lifted up until force reaches 15 percent of the body weight. Participant will perform 30 seconds/repetition for 4 repetitions with 15 seconds rest between repetitions.
Active Comparator: Lumbopelvic relaxing technique; Hamstrings muscle stretching with lumbopelvic relaxing technique.	Other: Lumbopelvic stiffening technique; Participants will stretch their hamstrings muscle in standing position with lumbopelvic stiffening technique. Fifteen percent of the body weight will be used to standardize stretching force. During stretching protocol, the participants will be instructed to face the hydraulic table with their hips square, maintain trunk straight up and look straight ahead. Researcher commands "during adjusting the bed up, please tense your back rigid". After that, hydraulic bed will be lifted up until force reaches 15 percent of the body weight. Participant will perform 30 seconds/repetition for 4 repetitions with 15 seconds rest between repetitions.; Other: Lumbopelvic relaxing technique; Participants will be instructed to face the hydraulic table with their hips square, maintain trunk straight up and look straight ahead. The researcher commands "During adjusting the bed up, please relax your back". The hydraulic bed will be lifted up until force reaches 15 percent of the body weight. Participant will perform 30 seconds/repetition for 4 repetitions with 15 seconds rest between repetitions.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Lumbar, pelvic, and lumbopelvic motions at baseline.	Clinical motion analysis system will be used to measure these segmental motions. This system is composed of triple axis accelerometers (MPU6050, China), data acquisition board (Arduino Uno R3, Italy), and a LabVIEW software version 2012 (National Instrument, USA). The system will be used to measure pre- and post-intervention of angle of lumbar, pelvic, and lumbopelvic motions through a custom LabVIEW program at 100 Hz.	These data will be collected at baseline and immediately after intervention.
Lumbar, pelvic, and lumbopelvic motions after intervention.	Clinical motion analysis system will be used to measure these segmental motions. This system is composed of triple axis accelerometers (MPU6050, China), data acquisition board (Arduino Uno R3, Italy), and a LabVIEW software version 2012 (National Instrument, USA). The system will be used to measure pre- and post-intervention of angle of lumbar, pelvic, and lumbopelvic motions through a custom LabVIEW program at 100 Hz.	These data will be collected at immediately after intervention.
Hamstrings muscle length at baseline.	Clinical motion analysis system will be used to measure the angle of knee extension that represents hamstrings muscle length at pre- and post-intervention.	These data will be collected at baseline.
Hamstrings muscle length after intervention.	Clinical motion analysis system will be used to measure the angle of knee extension that represents hamstrings muscle length at pre- and post-intervention.	These data will be collected at immediately after intervention.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscle length based on modified Thomas and Trendelenburg test.	Clinical tests will be performed at the baseline because they could be a potential confounding factor.	These data will be collected at baseline only.
Abdominal and back muscle strength .	Abdominal and back muscle strengths will be measured by using a hand-held dynamometer. Clinical tests will be performed at the baseline because they could be a potential confounding factor.	These data will be collected at baseline only.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Mahidol University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Peemongkon Wattananon, PhD, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Jandre Reis FJ, Macedo AR. Influence of Hamstring Tightness in Pelvic, Lumbar and Trunk Range of Motion in Low Back Pain and Asymptomatic Volunteers during Forward Bending. Asian Spine J. 2015 Aug;9(4):535-40. doi: 10.4184/asj.2015.9.4.535. Epub 2015 Jul 28.
• Hicks GE, Fritz JM, Delitto A, McGill SM. Preliminary development of a clinical prediction rule for determining which patients with low back pain will respond to a stabilization exercise program. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005 Sep;86(9):1753-62. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2005.03.033.
• Sahrmann S, Azevedo DC, Dillen LV. Diagnosis and treatment of movement system impairment syndromes. Braz J Phys Ther. 2017 Nov-Dec;21(6):391-399. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2017.08.001. Epub 2017 Sep 27.
• Wattananon P, Prasertkul W, Sakulsriprasert P, Laskin JJ. Effect of increased relative stiffness of the lumbar spine on hamstring muscle stretching in individuals with a history of low back pain suspected to have a clinical lumbar instability: A randomized crossover design. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2020 May;75:104996. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2020.104996. Epub 2020 Apr 20.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 24, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 30, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): May 30, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 19, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 24, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): December 27, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 3, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 31, 2019
• Last Verified: May 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: History of low back pain; Clinical lumbar instability; Stretching exercise
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Back Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2018/200.1010

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Yes
• IPD Plan Description: The IPD of this study will be shared upon official request.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: The supporting information will be sent upon official request.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Having an official written request.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: Study Protocol; Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP); Informed Consent Form (ICF); Clinical Study Report (CSR); Analytic Code

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No