TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of paraspinal muscle spindles in lumbosacral position sense in individuals with and without low back pain
AU - Brumagne, Simon
AU - Cordo, Paul
AU - Lysens, Roeland
AU - Verschueren, Sabine
AU - Swinnen, Stephan
PY - 2000/4/15
Y1 - 2000/4/15
N2 - Study Design. A two-group experimental design with repeated measures on one factor was used. Objectives. To investigate the role of paraspinal muscle spindles in lumbosacral position sense in individuals with and without low back pain. Summary of Background Data. Proprioceptive deficits have been identified in patients with low back pain. The underlying mechanisms, however, are not well documented. Methods. Lumbosacral position sense was determined before, during, and after lumbar paraspinal muscle vibration in 23 young patients with low back pain and in 21 control subjects. Position sense was estimated by calculating the mean absolute error, constant error, and variable error between six criterion and reproduction sacral tilt angles. Results. Repositioning accuracy was significantly lower in the patient group than in healthy individuals (absolute error difference between groups = 2.7°, P < 0.0001). Multifidus muscle vibration induced a significant muscle- lengthening illusion that resulted in an under-shooting of the target position in healthy individuals (constant error = 3.1°, P < 0.0001). Conversely, the position sense scores of the patient group did not display an increase in negative directional error but a significant improvement in position sense during muscle vibration (P < 0.05). No significant differences in absolute error were found between the first and last trial in the healthy individuals (P ≥ 0.05) and in the patient group (P > 0.05). Conclusions. Patients with low back pain have a less refined position sense than healthy individuals, possibly because of an altered paraspinal muscle spindle afference and central processing of this sensory input. Furthermore, muscle vibration can be an interesting expedient for improving proprioception and enhancing local muscle control.
AB - Study Design. A two-group experimental design with repeated measures on one factor was used. Objectives. To investigate the role of paraspinal muscle spindles in lumbosacral position sense in individuals with and without low back pain. Summary of Background Data. Proprioceptive deficits have been identified in patients with low back pain. The underlying mechanisms, however, are not well documented. Methods. Lumbosacral position sense was determined before, during, and after lumbar paraspinal muscle vibration in 23 young patients with low back pain and in 21 control subjects. Position sense was estimated by calculating the mean absolute error, constant error, and variable error between six criterion and reproduction sacral tilt angles. Results. Repositioning accuracy was significantly lower in the patient group than in healthy individuals (absolute error difference between groups = 2.7°, P < 0.0001). Multifidus muscle vibration induced a significant muscle- lengthening illusion that resulted in an under-shooting of the target position in healthy individuals (constant error = 3.1°, P < 0.0001). Conversely, the position sense scores of the patient group did not display an increase in negative directional error but a significant improvement in position sense during muscle vibration (P < 0.05). No significant differences in absolute error were found between the first and last trial in the healthy individuals (P ≥ 0.05) and in the patient group (P > 0.05). Conclusions. Patients with low back pain have a less refined position sense than healthy individuals, possibly because of an altered paraspinal muscle spindle afference and central processing of this sensory input. Furthermore, muscle vibration can be an interesting expedient for improving proprioception and enhancing local muscle control.
KW - Low back pain
KW - Multifidus muscle
KW - Muscle spindle
KW - Neuromuscular dysfunction
KW - Pelvic tilting
KW - Proprioception
KW - Repositioning accuracy
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U2 - 10.1097/00007632-200004150-00015
DO - 10.1097/00007632-200004150-00015
M3 - Article
C2 - 10767813
AN - SCOPUS:0034656106
SN - 0362-2436
VL - 25
SP - 989
EP - 994
JO - Spine
JF - Spine
IS - 8
ER -