Core Muscles Endurance in Sedentary Individuals with and without Nonspecific Chronic Low Back: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background. Musculoskeletal dysfunction is one of the most important occupational health issues. Prolonged sitting may be a risk factor for low back pain (LBP) associated with reduced muscle endurance, although many people with a sedentary lifestyle and sitting-type job report no pain and discomfort in the lumbar region. In the present study, endurance of the core muscles in individuals with sedentary jobs with nonspecific chronic LBP were compared with those without LBP. Objective. The present study compared core muscle endurance in individuals with sedentary jobs with and without nonspecific chronic low back pain. Methods. A total of 50 sedentary staffs were selected and divided into LBP and control group. Trunk muscle endurance was measured in seconds using the McGill's trunk flexor endurance test, the Sorenson's trunk extensor endurance test, and the right and left trunk flexor endurance test (Side-bridge test). Differences between the two groups were analyzed using multivariate general linear models in 2 ways ANOVA. Results. There were no significant between-group differences in the raw endurance of the extensor, flexor, right/ left flexor muscles (P ≥ 0.05). However, there were significant betweengroup differences in some self-reported physical fitness subscales (P < 0.05), duration of sitting at home (P = 0.035), frequency of assuming a slump sitting position (P = 0.049), and sitting with leaning back to the backrest (P = 0.02) at work. We developed uni-and multivariate general linear models, which showed adjustments to these parameters and unmasked fundamental between-group differences in extensor muscle endurance. Conclusions. Our finding does not support the popular opinion that daily sitting-while-at-work for long durations is necessarily associated with LBP. Instead, sitting posture, lower physical fitness levels, and shorter duration of sitting activities at home may be associated with reduced extensor muscle endurance in nonspecific chronic low back pain.

Work-Related Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Disorder among Nurses in Indian Hospitals

“…This may be due to the high physical requirements of manual handling tasks. In contrast, Esfahani et al (47) concluded that their findings do not support the prevailing view that prolonged sitting at work as part of everyday life is necessarily associated with LB pain; rather, sitting posture, lower levels of physical fitness, and shorter duration of home activities may be associated with reduced extensor endurance in nonspecific chronic LB pain. In this survey, most nurses (65% male and 57% female) were within the normal weight range and their BMI was unrelated to MSDs.…”

The Effects of Lower Crossed Syndrome on Upper Body Posture during Sitting in Female Office Workers

“…Some studies showed the association between head position and shoulder posture (29,33,(35)(36)(37). Haddadi et al (38) also reported that a slump sitting position may be associated with reduced extensor muscle endurance in nonspecific chronic low back pain (38) so interestingly, the future study needs to investigate the effect of the LCS type B with nonspecific chronic low back pain on upper body postures while sitting. For trunk flexion angle, this study found that people with the LCS type B had less trunk flexion angle than healthy people and those with LCS type A significantly, possibly due to tightness of the upper abdominal muscles, as well as greater stretching of back extensor muscles results in kyphosis of thoracic spine and a decrease in lumbar lordosis, so, people with the LCS type B had bending posture more than healthy groups and people with LCS type A (14,15).…”