Assessment of lumbopelvic movement control in tennis players with and without low back pain

Poster (2012, October)

Relevance: LBP is common among tennis players. More than one third of professional tennis players reported LBP as reason for missing at least one tournament. As impaired lumbar motor functions have been ... [more ▼]

Relevance: LBP is common among tennis players. More than one third of professional tennis players reported LBP as reason for missing at least one tournament. As impaired lumbar motor functions have been associated with LBP, it appears particularly relevant to assess lumbopelvic movement control in tennis players. Methods: Twenty amateur tennis players (male, 22.9 ± 3.0 years) were included. Subjects were pooled into two groups: 10 players with chronic LBP (mean pain duration: 3.1 ± 2.6 years, pain severity score: 3.5/10 on a pain visual analogue scale) and 10 players without LBP. The Bent Knee Fall Out (BKFO) test was used to assess the players’ ability to control movement of lumbopelvic region. BKFO was performed in supine position and monitored by means of two pressure biofeedback units inflated to 40 mmHg and positioned under the lumbar spine of the participant. The reliability of this test has been previously assessed. Players were instructed to make an active abduction-external rotation movement of the hip (45°) without concomitant lumbopelvic movement of the pelvis and low back. Pressure modification (mmHg) was recorded, each side was assessed. Results: Tennis players with LBP had a worse lumbopelvic movement control than players without LBP both for dominant (9.0 mm Hg vs 3.4 mmHg, P<0.05) as well for the non-dominant side (9.1 mmHg vs 4.6 mmHg, P<0.05). Conclusions: Tennis players with LBP experience similar alterations of motor control as those observed in sedentary people with LBP. However, it remains unclear if these alterations are the cause of the consequence of chronic LBP. Implications: Further prospective studies should assess the cause or effect relationship and should determine whether motor control exercises are effective in tennis players with chronic LBP. [less ▲]

Muscular Performance Assessment of Trunk Extensors: A Critical Appraisal of the Literature

in Asghar Norasteh, Ali (Ed.) Low Back Pain (2012)

Etude des qualités métrologiques d'un nouvel outil d'évaluation des peurs-évitements du lombalgique chronique

in Revue du Rhumatisme (2011, November), 78(Suppl 5), 50-51

Les séances d'école du dos n'augmentent pas les peurs liées à la douleur du lombalgique chronique

in Revue du Rhumatisme (2011, November), 78(Suppl 5), 182

Comparison of subjective and objective methods to assess physical activity in professionally active adults

in Physiotherapy (2011), 97

Le renforcement instrumentalisé des muscles du tronc

in Kinesitherapie Revue (2010, December), 108

Influence of back school and physical exercises on pain-related fears

in Vleeming, Andry; Fitzgerald, Colleen (Eds.) 7th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back & Pelvic Pain - Effective diagnosis and treatment of lumbopelvic pain (2010, November)

Evaluation des peurs liées à la douleur du lombalgique chronique au moyen du PHODA (Photograph Series of Daily Activities)

in Revue du Rhumatisme (2010, November), 77(Supplément 3), 52-53

Influence of Sport Activity on Trunk Muscle Performances

Poster (2010, June 24)

Introduction: Lumbar pain among athletes is a common problem and can be challenging for athletic trainers and therapists. Unfortunately, little is known about the capabilities of trunk muscle function in ... [more ▼]

Introduction: Lumbar pain among athletes is a common problem and can be challenging for athletic trainers and therapists. Unfortunately, little is known about the capabilities of trunk muscle function in elite athletes Therefore, an objective assessment of muscle performance is relevant in injury prevention and rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to examine the specific trunk muscle strength and endurance in different sports i.e. swimming, rowing and tennis. Methods: We assessed maximum isometric trunk extensor, rotator, flexor and lateroflexor muscle strength as well as trunk extensor muscle endurance of 10 swimmers, 10 rowers, 10 tennismen and 10 sedentary students (control group). Strength was measured by means of specific trunk dynamometers. An adaptation of the Sorensen test was performed to assess trunk extensor endurance. Results: Muscle strength appeared generally higher among athletes than among control subjects. However, differences were statistically significant only with swimmers for trunk flexors (p<0.05) and trunk rotators (p<0.05), with rowers for trunk flexors (p<0.05) and with tennismen for dominant lateroflexors (p<0.05) and non-dominant trunk rotators (p<0.05). No significant bilateral difference appeared for trunk lateralflexors strength. For trunk rotators, tennismen were significantly stronger in the non-dominant side (p<0.05). Trunk extensor endurance was higher among rowers than among the other groups. Conclusion: This study underlined several differences in trunk muscle performance between athletes and control subjects as well as within athletes groups in relation to their sports. Further studies would clarify the full significance of these results with respect to performance and injury. [less ▲]

Effectiveness of a semi-intensive multidisciplinary outpatient rehabilitation program in chronic low back pain

in Joint Bone Spine (2010), 77

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of a semi-intensive multidisciplinary outpatient program complying with the requirements of the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance and ... [more ▼]

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of a semi-intensive multidisciplinary outpatient program complying with the requirements of the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance and intended for patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: Weincluded 262 patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain, amongwhom136 (73women and 63 men) with a mean pain duration of 11.3 years completed the outpatient program (36 sessions each lasting 2 h). The program consisted of education about back-sparing techniques, interventions by an occupational therapist and psychologist, and physical reconditioning. Three sessions (sessions 1, 18, and 36) were used to evaluate pain intensity, functional impairment, kinesiophobia, cognitive knowledge, knowledge of appropriate spinal movement technique, and physical performance (trunk muscle strength and endurance, mobility of the pelvis and lumbar spine, and aerobic capacity). Results: All study variables were significantly improved at study completion compared to baseline: pain intensity was decreased by 44%, functional impairment by 40%, and kinesiophobia by 11% whereas knowledge was improved by 59%, back-sparing technique by 95%, trunk muscle strength by 40% on average, trunk extensor muscle endurance by 90%, mobility by 8%, and aerobic capacity by 18%. Conclusions: A semi-intensive multidisciplinary outpatient program was beneficial in patients with chronic low back pain. Careful patient selection and increased patient involvement in the program may help to improve adherence. [less ▲]