Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between hamstring passive stiffness and extensibility in asymptomatic individuals with the reporting of low back pain during 2-h prolonged standing. Twenty healthy participants with no history of low back pain (mean±SD, age 22.6±2.7years, height 1.74±0.09m, weight 76.2±14.8kg). Low back pain (VAS score; mm) was continuously monitored during 2-h prolonged standing. Hamstring extensibility, passive stiffness, and stretch tolerance were measured before and after prolonged standing using an instrumented straight leg raise (iSLR). Ten participants reported a clinically relevant increase (Δ VAS > 10mm) in low back pain during prolonged standing. Hamstring extensiblity (leg°max), passive stiffness (Nm.°-1), and stretch tolerance (VAS; mm) were no different between pain developers and non-pain developers. No changes in hamstring measures were observed following 2-h prolonged standing. No relationship was observed in this study between measures of hamstring extensibility and the reporting of low back pain during prolonged standing. There is no evidence to recommend hamstring extensibility interventions (i.e. passive stretching) as a means of reducing pain reporting in occupations requiring prolonged standing.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 407-411 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2012 |
Keywords
- hamstring
- flexor reflex
- straight leg raise
- prolonged standing
- passive stiffness
- low back pain
- physical tolerance
- pain threshold
- pain assessment
- muscle stiffness