• Ramos Luiz Armando Vidal LAV Department of Physical Therapy, Speech and Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine of University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. luiz.arman, França Fábio Jorge Renovato FJR Department of Physical Therapy, Speech and Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine of University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil., Bianca Callegari, Thomaz Nogueira Burke, Maurício Oliveira Magalhães, and Amélia Pasqual Marques.
• Department of Physical Therapy, Speech and Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine of University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. luiz.armando@usp.br.
• Eur Spine J. 2016 May 1; 25 (5): 1435-1442.

PurposeThe aims of this study were to assess lumbar multifidus fatigue (LM) and transversus abdominis activation (TrA) in individuals with lumbar disc herniation associated with low back pain.MethodsSixty individuals were divided into the lumbar herniation (LHG, n = 30) and control groups (CG, n = 30). Fatigue of the LM was assessed using surface electromyography during the Sorensen effort test, and activation of the TrA with a pressure biofeedback unit. Pain intensity was determined using a visual analog scale and the McGill pain questionnaire. The Oswestry disability questionnaire and the Borg scale for self-evaluating exertion were used to assess functional disability.ResultsFatigue was significantly more intense and the TrA activation was insufficient (p < 0.01) in individuals with disc herniation relative to the control group. The LHG had mild functional disability and moderate pain. There were differences in the initial exertion self-evaluation between groups, which were not observed in the final exertion evaluation.ConclusionIndividuals with lumbar disc herniation associated with low back pain have increased fatigue of the LM and decreased activation of the TrA, when compared to the control group.

19 keywords...

hide…