Lumbopelvic sagittal standing posture associations with anthropometry, physical activity levels and trunk muscle endurance in healthy adults

George A Koumantakis, Antonios Malkotsis, Stefanos Pappas, Maria Manetta, Timotheos Anastopoulos, Apollon Kakouris, Eleutherios Kiourtsidakis, George A Koumantakis, Antonios Malkotsis, Stefanos Pappas, Maria Manetta, Timotheos Anastopoulos, Apollon Kakouris, Eleutherios Kiourtsidakis

Abstract

Background: Various factors, inherited and acquired, are associated with habitual spinal postures.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationships between trunk muscle endurance, anthropometry and physical activity/inactivity and the sagittal standing lumbopelvic posture in pain-free young participants.

Methods: In this study, 112 healthy young adults (66 females), with median (IQR) age of 20 years (18.2-22 years), without low back pain, injury or trauma were included. Lumbar curve (LC) and sacral slope (SS) angles were measured in standing with a mobile phone application (iHandy level). Anthropometric, physical activity/inactivity levels (leisure-time sport involvement and sitting hours/day) and abdominal (plank prone bridge test) and paraspinal (Sorensen test) isometric muscle endurance measures were collected.

Results: LC and SS angles correlated significantly ( r = 0 . 80 , p < 0 . 001 ). Statistically significant differences for both LC ( p = 0 . 023 ) and SS ( p = 0 . 013 ) angles were identified between the male and female participants. A significant negative correlation was identified between the abdominal endurance time and LC ( r =- 0 . 27 , p = 0 . 004 ); however, the power of this result (56%) was not sufficiently high. The correlation between abdominal endurance and SS was non-significant ( r =- 0 . 17 , p = 0 . 08 ). In addition, no significant associations were identified between either of the sagittal lumbopelvic angles (LC-SS) in standing and the participants' body mass index (BMI), paraspinal endurance, leisure-time sport involvement or sitting hours/day.

Conclusion: The potential role of preventive exercise in controlling lumbar lordosis via enhancement of the abdominal muscle endurance characteristics requires further confirmation. A subsequent study, performed in a larger population of more diverse occupational involvement and leisure-time physical activity levels, is proposed.

Keywords: Muscle fatigue; abdominal; lumbar; physical activity; spine.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest relevant to this paper.

© 2021, Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Lumbar curve and sacral slope measurement technique with the smartphone placed at T12–L1 and S1–S2 interspaces.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Procedures for (a) plank prone bridge endurance test and (b) modified Sorensen endurance test to complete exhaustion.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Scatterplot of lumbar curve angle in upright standing against the plank prone bridge endurance test performed to complete exhaustion (n=112).

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