Article

Studies of electromyographic (EMG) activity and lumbopelvic rhythm have led to a
better understanding of neuromuscular alterations in chronic low back pain (cLBP)
patients. Whether these changes reflect adaptations to chronic pain or are
induced by acute pain is still unclear. This work aimed to assess the effects of
experimental LBP on lumbar erector spinae (LES) EMG activity and lumbopelvic
kinematics during a trunk flexion-extension task in healthy volunteers and LBP
patients. The contribution of disability to these effects was also examined.
Twelve healthy participants and 14 cLBP patients performed flexion-extension
tasks in three conditions ; control, innocuous heat and noxious heat, applied on
the skin over L5 or T7. The results indicated that noxious heat at L5 evoked
specific increases in LES activity during static full trunk flexion and
extension, irrespective of participants' group. Kinematic data suggested that LBP
patients adopted a different movement strategy than controls when noxious heat
was applied at the L5 level. Besides, high disability was associated with less
kinematic changes when approaching and leaving full flexion. These results
indicate that experimental pain can induce neuromechanical alterations in cLBP
patients and healthy volunteers, and that higher disability in patients is
associated with decreased movement pattern changes.
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Langue : ANGLAIS