Chronic low back pain changes the latissmus dorsi and gluteus maximus muscles activation pattern and upward scapular rotation: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic low back pain (LBP) have an impaired dynamic spinal stability, which may lead to arm injuries. OBJECTIVES: To examine the latissimus dorsi and gluteus maximus muscles activation pattern and the upward scapular rotation in patients with chronic LBP. METHODS: Sixty-one right-handed males were divided into two groups: chronic LBP group (n= 31) and healthy controls (n= 30). The electromyography (EMG) activities of the right and left latissimus dorsi and gluteus maximus were recorded. The upward scapular rotation in different shoulder positions (neutral, 45∘, 90∘, 135∘ abduction and end range) was measured in both groups. RESULTS: The LBP group has a bilateral significant increased EMG of latissimus dorsi (p< 0.05) and significantly decreased EMG of gluteus maximus (p< 0.05) compared to the control group, without significant differences between the right and left sides (p> 0.05). There was a significant increase in upward scapular rotation in the LBP group relative to the control group in all shoulder abduction positions on both sides. The left side upward scapular rotation was more significant than the right (p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Chronic LBP increased the latissimus dorsi muscle activities and decreased the gluteus maximus activities. It furthermore increased the upward scapular rotation in different shoulder abduction positions.

Electromyographic Activity of Posterior Oblique Sling Muscles During Gait in Subjects with Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain versus Healthy Controls

“…The result of the current study is consistent with the result of the work by Mohamed et al (24) who found increased activation of LD and decreased activation of GMax muscles in subjects with chronic low back pain as compared to controls. Their study, however, measured the activation of muscles on both sides of the body, unlike our study.…”

“…Also, the major difference between this study and their work is that they measured the EMG muscle activity during prone hip extension while in this study we measured the same muscle activities during walking on a treadmill. Increased scapular upward rotation was reported in subjects with chronic low back pain as compared to healthy controls by the work of Mohamed et al (24). Our study, however, did not find a statistically significant difference between groups with a slight increase in the degree of scapular upward rotation measured at 0 and 45 degrees of abduction in subjects with CNSLBP.…”

“…To detect an effect size of Cohen's d = 0.82 with 80% power (alpha = 0.05), G*power software (version 3.1.9.7; Franz Faul, Universitat Kiel, Germany) suggested we need 50 participants (25 in each group) using an independent sample t-test (two-tailed). The effect size was calculated based on a standard deviation of 16 points in a group of subjects with CNSLBP and an expected mean difference of 9 points from a previous similar study (24).…”

Relationship Between Scapular Upward Rotation and Gluteus Maximus Activity in Subjects With Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain

“…The ground electrode was placed on the spinous process of the L2 vertebra. (9,10). Surface electrocardiography adhesive electrodes were used.…”