Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Does Not Affect Muscle Synergy for Rowing Activities

Abstract

Rowers with disc degeneration may have motor control dysfunction during rowing. This study is aimed at clarifying the trunk and lower extremity muscle synergy during rowing and at comparing the muscle synergy between elite rowers with and without lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration. Twelve elite collegiate rowers (with disc degeneration, n = 6 ; without disc degeneration, n = 6 ) were included in this study. Midline sagittal images obtained by lumbar T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging were used to evaluate disc degeneration. Participants with one or more degenerated discs were classified into the disc degeneration group. A 2000 m race trial using a rowing ergometer was conducted. Surface electrodes were attached to the right rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, latissimus dorsi, multifidus, erector spinae, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris. The activity of the muscles was measured during one stroke immediately after 20% and 80% of the rowing trial. Nonnegative matrix factorization was used to extract the muscle synergies from the electromyographic data. To compare the muscle synergies, a scalar product (SP) evaluating synergy coincidence was calculated, and the muscle synergies were considered identical at SP > 75 % . Both groups had only one module in the 20% and 80% time points of the trial. At the 20% time point of the 2000 m rowing trial, the SP of the module was 99.8%. At the 80% time point, the SP of the module was 99.9%. The SP results indicate that, at 20% and 80% time points, both groups had the same module. The module showed a high contribution in all muscles. The activation coefficients indicated that the module was always highly activated throughout the rowing stroke in both groups. The trunk and lower extremity muscles are mobilized through the rowing stroke and maintain coordination during rowing. There was no difference in the muscle synergy between the rowers with and without lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration.

Patterns of Intervertebral Disk Alteration in Asymptomatic Elite Rowers: A T2* MRI Mapping Study

“…The correlation between T2* and Pfirrmann grading in rowers proved to be mild at t 1 (r ¼-0.48; P < .001) and Even at the elite level, rowing is among the sports with the lowest injury incidence. 13 However, if an injury occurs, its nature is often chronic and from overuse [32][33][34] and may lead to loss of training time. 37,39 The rowing movement is cyclical and leads to repetitive loading of the back in flexion and, in sweep rowing, rotation, 9,43 combined with high compressive and shear forces.…”

“…Even at the elite level, rowing is among the sports with the lowest injury incidence. 13 However, if an injury occurs, its nature is often chronic and from overuse 32 – 34 and may lead to loss of training time. 37 , 39 …”

“…Specific injuries to the low back in rowers include disk damage, protrusion, or herniation. 27 While IVD degeneration does not necessarily lead to changes in muscle synergy during the rowing movement, 32 LBP and a history of LBP have a clear effect on rowing kinematics 26 , 30 and can be caused by IVD degeneration. T2* values can be an early marker for loss of disk vitality.…”

Construction of tissue-engineered nucleus pulposus by stimulation with periodic mechanical stress and BMP-2

“…IVDD is a multifactorial disease, and the etiology and pathogenesis of IVDD are incompletely understood. However, scientists generally consider that genetic factors, age, lifestyle, and non-physiological mechanical loading are the main factors of IVDD (Clouet et al, 2009;Sekine et al, 2021;Hadjipavlou et al, 2008). It is estimated that $50 billion in direct costs will be incurred globally each year for the treatment of this disease (Dieleman et al, 2016); taking into account indirect costs of reduced patient productivity caused by disability, the economic impact of LBP is a substantial challenge around the world (Katz, 2006).…”