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Low back pain (LBP) is the leading disabling musculoskeletal disorder globally making it a major public health problem.
In this study, it has been reviewed that recent
developments like estimation of lower back loads and large-array surface
electromyography (LA-SEMG) can be potent in low back pain estimation. Various
approaches using biomechanical models had been used to estimate LBP.
Low back pain (LBP) is the leading disabling
musculoskeletal disorder globally making it a major public health problem. A
number of biomechanical methods in which kinematic, kinetic and/or
neuromuscular approaches are used to study LBP. In this narrative review,
recent developments in two of such biomechanical methods: estimation of
large-array surface electromyography (LA-SEMG) and lower back loads and the
findings associated with LBP are reported. The estimation of lower back loads
is very important for the management of work-related low back injuries and
prevention, based on the mechanical loading model as one category of LBP
classification.
The methods used for the estimation of lower back loads
vary from simple rigid link-segment models to the sophisticated ones, optimization-based
finite element models. In general, reports of differences in mechanical loads
experienced in lower back tissues between patients with LBP and asymptomatic
individuals were reviewed and were not consistent. The lack of consistency is
primarily due to differences in activities under which the lower back
mechanical loads, as well as heterogeneity of patient populations, were
investigated. The ability to examine trunk neuromuscular behaviour is
particularly relevant to the motor control model, another category of LBP
classification. LA-SEMG not only is noninvasive but also provides spatial
resolution within and across muscle groups.
Studies using LA-SEMG showed that healthy individuals
exhibit highly organized, symmetric back muscle activity patterns, suggesting
an orderly recruitment of muscle fibres. In contrast, back muscle activity
patterns in LBP patients are asymmetric or multifocal, suggesting a lack of
orderly muscle recruitment. LA-SEMG was also found capable of capturing unique
back muscle response to manual therapy.
The study concluded that the estimation of low back load
and LA-SEMG techniques showed promising potentials for understanding LBP and
strategic treatment effects. Future studies are warranted to fully establish
the complete clinical validity of both biomechanical methods.
Journal of Pain Research
Application of advanced biomechanical methods in studying low back pain - recent development in the estimation of lower back loads and large-array surface electromyography and findings.
Bazrgari B et al.
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