Compensatory spinopelvic motions with and without a handheld task following a perturbation in standing between subjects with and without chronic low back pain

• Published in: Gait & posture Vol. 76; no. NA; pp. 7 - 13
• Main Authors: Sung, Paul S., Schalk, Bradley M., Latuszek, Nicholas, Hosmer, Emily
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 01.02.2020
• Subjects: Compensatory motion; Kinematics; Low back pain; Motor learning; Perturbations; Walking; Walking; Perturbations; Motor learning; Low back pain; Kinematics; Compensatory motion
• ISSN: 0966-6362; 1879-2219; 1879-2219
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2019.10.040

•Three-dimensional spinopelvic motions were compared following perturbations.•The pain group minimized lumbar and pelvis flexion with a handheld task.•These reduced motions might be critical to correct balance strategies. A handheld task-related compensation strategy could be used to avoid injuries in subjects with chronic low back pain (LBP). Those who suffer with LBP demonstrate reduced spinopelvic motion; however, there is a lack of understanding on dynamic mobility with a handheld task. Are there differences in three-dimensional spinopelvic motions following a treadmill-induced perturbation in subjects with LBP while considering a handheld task? Twenty-five subjects (11 female and 14 male) with LBP and 38 control subjects (15 female and 23 male) participated in the study. Each group was introduced to walking perturbations (0.86 m/sec, velocity in 0.1 sec) with and without a handheld tray in a standing position. The induced trip allowed subjects to recover by walking forward for a 5 second duration while the spinopelvic angles were measured during the trip and the subsequent recovery period. There was no significant group difference in the three-dimensional (3D) spinopelvic motions while holding or not holding a tray. However, the groups demonstrated a significant interaction on tray usage with 3D motions in the spinopelvic regions (F = 13.46, p = 0.001). The sagittal plane motion was significantly minimized with a handheld task for both the lumbar spine and pelvis in the LBP group. The LBP group demonstrated minimized lumbar and pelvic motions in the sagittal plane, which underpins their concern to reduce motion while holding a tray. The significant interaction between groups on tray usage for spinopelvic compensation represents a strategy for avoiding injuries. Further studies are required to determine strategies to enhance lumbopelvic integration with handheld tasks in individuals with LBP.