Lumbopelvic Movement Control: Effect of Injury History, and the Role of Cortical Control and Its Practical Application 1

Restoration of Lumbopelvic Movement Control: Effect of Injury History, and the Role of Cortical Control and Its Practical Application(1)

Lumbopelvic movement control is crucial for movement stability during weight loading training, and also an important risk factor for the occurrence and recurrence of low back pain (LBP). Previous studies indicated that athletes with LBP had poorer lumbopelvic movement control, and the deficits in lumbopelvic control could be remained after LBP remission. However, there has been no study investigating the effect of LBP history (LBPH) on the performance of the loaded squatting task, and lumbopelvic movement control in people who practice regular weight training.

Therefore, the aims of this study are to examine the differences in lumbopelvic movement control, kinematics and muscle activation during the loaded squatting task in weight training practitioners with LBP, LBPH, and asymptomatic controls, to compare the cortical control mechanisms between 3 types of motor control training strategies, and to investigate the intervention effect of motor control training on restoring the lumbopelvic movement control and squatting performance.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Biomechanical Phenomena
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: core muscle training; Other: movement control training; Other: combined imagery and movement control training

Detailed Description

Lumbopelvic movement control is crucial for movement stability during high weight loading training, and also an important risk factor for the occurrence and recurrence of low back pain (LBP). Previous studies indicated that athletes with LBP had poorer lumbopelvic movement control, and for those athletes who have recovered from LBP, some research data still showed that poor lumbopelvic control remained. However, there has been no study investigating the effect of LBP history (LBPH) on the performance of the loaded squatting task, and lumbopelvic movement control in people who practice regular weight training.

Therefore, the aims of this study are to examine the differences in lumbopelvic movement control, kinematics and muscle activation during the loaded squatting task in weight training practitioners with LBP, LBPH, and asymptomatic controls. In the next part of the study, investigators will further investigate the intervention effect of motor control training on restoring the lumbopelvic movement control and squatting performance. Methods: This is an exploratory, cross-sectional, and intervention study. First part: investigators plan to recruit 15 participants between 20-40 years old, practicing loaded squatting for 1 day a week for at least one year, and having LBPH; 15 matched participants with current LBP, and 15 controls for the study. All subjects will undergo a series of squatting task (4 X 10 repetitions) and the kinematics and muscle activation of the rectus abdominus, transverse abdominus/internal obliqus, eractor spinae, and gluteus maximus will be recorded and analyzed using Noraxon myoRESEARCH (Noraxon U.S.A., Inc., Scottsdale, AZ, USA). A set of lumbopelvic movement control tests will also be conducted. The kinematics, muscle activation, and movement control test scores will be compared between groups. The second part, investigators plan to recruit 45 weight training practitioners with LBPH, randomized into three groups (core muscle training, movement control training, combined imagery and movement control training), and compare the effect of 4-week training on squatting performance and lumbopelvic movement control. Statistical analysis: Comparisons of all continuous variables are performed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the intervention effect will be assessed using the repeated measures ANOVA. Chi squared test is used to examine the group differences in lumbopelvic movement control testing. The significance level is set at 0.05.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 41
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Taipei, Taiwan, 11221
    • National Yang Ming 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:

Frequency of weight loading squatting training:

1. At least 1 time/week, at least 1 year.

LBP group:

1. Present symptoms from T12 to the upper buttock
2. Numerical rating scale (NRS) score ≥ 3/10
3. Present episode of LBP lasting > 24 hours

LBPH group:

1. Previous symptoms from T12 to the upper buttock
2. Presently in symptom remission
3. At least 2 episodes of LBP in the past 1 year, each lasting > 24 hours, and following a period of at least 2~4 weeks pain-free, OR at least 1 episode of LBP, each lasting 2 months.

Asymptomatic controls:

1. Without any history of LBP that limited their function or required treatment from a health professional in the past 2 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Inability to perform parallel-squat due to LBP
2. Pain and ROM limitation in lower extremities
3. LBP due to traumatic injury
4. Previous spine surgery
5. Spinal deformities: HIVD, spondylosis, scoliosis, spinal stenosis
6. Neurological sign, and radiating pain to lower extremities
7. Systematic disease: rheumatoid arthritis

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: core muscle training; Training the endurance of the core muscle.	Other: core muscle training; The intervention of this group will focus on training the endurance of the core muscle.
Experimental: movement control training; Based from the initial test, the subjects will receive lumbar movement control exercise. They will perform each lumbar movement control exercise in different position.	Other: movement control training; Based from the initial test, the subjects will receive either lumbar flexion control exercise or lumbar extension control exercise. They will perform each lumbar movement control exercise in different position. Starting from the lying position, then progressing to sitting, standing with support, and the last level will be standing without support. Each set of movement will be practiced 10 times, totally 10 sets. It will take approximately 5~8 minutes to finish each movement. The subjects will learn 5~8 types of the movement every week.
Experimental: combined imagery and movement control training; The intervention of this group is mostly same as the movement control training group. The different part is that the first 3 times of the movement will be practiced through image training, and the subjects will practice the real movement in the rest of 7 times.	Other: combined imagery and movement control training; The intervention of this group is mostly same as the movement control training group. The different part is that the first 3 times of the movement will be practiced through image training, so the subjects will not have any real movement, and the last 7 times they will perform the lumbar motor control exercise literally. Each set of movement will be practiced 10 times, totally 10 sets. It will take approximately 5~8 minutes to finish each movement. The subjects will learn 5~8 types of the movement every week.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Lumbopelvic kinematics	The investigator will place three markers at subjects' 1st lumbar vertebrae, 2nd sacrum vertebrae, and lateral side of left greater trochanter. The investigator will record the track of each marker through the video system(Noraxon myoVIDEOTM, Noraxon USA Inc., USA) while the subject is squatting. According to the record, the investigator will analyze the angles between 1st lumbar vertebrae and 2nd sacrum vertebrae which are the lumbar flexion angles and the lumbar extension angles.	pre-intervention
Lumbopelvic kinematics	The investigator will place three markers at subjects' 1st lumbar vertebrae, 2nd sacrum vertebrae, and lateral side of left greater trochanter. The investigator will record the track of each marker through the video system(Noraxon myoVIDEOTM, Noraxon USA Inc., USA) while the subject is squatting. According to the record, the investigator will analyze the angles between 1st lumbar vertebrae and 2nd sacrum vertebrae which are the lumbar flexion angles and the lumbar extension angles.	after 4 weeks of intervention
Hip kinematics	The investigator will place three markers at subjects' 1st lumbar vertebrae, 2nd sacrum vertebrae, and lateral side of left greater trochanter. The investigator will record the track of each marker through the video system(Noraxon myoVIDEOTM, Noraxon USA Inc., USA) while the subject is squatting. According to the record, the investigator will analyze the angles between 2nd sacrum vertebrae and greater trochanter which are the hip flexion angles and the hip extension angles.	pre-intervention
Hip kinematics	The investigator will place three markers at subjects' 1st lumbar vertebrae, 2nd sacrum vertebrae, and lateral side of left greater trochanter. The investigator will record the track of each marker through the video system(Noraxon myoVIDEOTM, Noraxon USA Inc., USA) while the subject is squatting. According to the record, the investigator will analyze the angles between 2nd sacrum vertebrae and greater trochanter which are the hip flexion angles and the hip extension angles.	after 4 weeks of intervention
Muscle activation	The investigator will record the muscle activation of erector spinae, rectus abdominus, internal obliques, and gluteus maximus through the electromyography (Noraxon TeleMyo sEMG System, Noraxon USA Inc., USA)	pre-intervention
Muscle activation	The investigator will record the muscle activation of erector spinae, rectus abdominus, internal obliques, and gluteus maximus through the electromyography (Noraxon TeleMyo sEMG System, Noraxon USA Inc., USA)	after 4 weeks of intervention
Lumbopelvic control ability	Using lumbar motor control test battery to test the stability of subjects' lumbar. This test battery is consisted of 10 motor control test based from previous studies. If the subjects complete the test successfully, they will get 1 point in each test, otherwise they may not get any points. Therefore, the minimum of the scale is 0 point, and the maximum is 10 points, and the higher scores mean the subjects can control their lumbar vertebrae much better.	pre-intervention
Lumbopelvic control ability	Using lumbar motor control test battery to test the stability of subjects' lumbar. This test battery is consisted of 10 motor control test based from previous studies. If the subjects complete the test successfully, they will get 1 point in each test, otherwise they may not get any points. Therefore, the minimum of the scale is 0 point, and the maximum is 10 points, and the higher scores mean the subjects can control their lumbar vertebrae much better.	after 4 weeks of intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Yang Ming University
• Investigators: Study Director: Yi-Fen Shih, PhD, Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 14, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 3, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 4, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): March 8, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 30, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 29, 2022
• Last Verified: September 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: back pain history; deep squat; movement control; cortical control; imagery training
• Other Study ID Numbers: YM110027E(1)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No