ASEMPTOMATİK BİREYLERDE DESTEKSİZ ÜST EKSTREMİTE EGZERSİZ KAPASİTESİ ÜZERİNDE SPİNAL MOBİLİTENİN ROLÜ

Abstract

Purpose: Upper extremities are important to perform activities of daily living. Although, the relationship between upper extremity movements and spinal region is known; to the best of our knowledge, the relationship between unsupported upper extremity exercise capacity (UUEEC) and spinal mobility has not been studied. The first aim of our study was to examine the relationship between the UUEEC and spinal mobility. The second aim of the study was to determine whether spinal mobility is a predictor of the UUEEC. 
 Methods: The study design was cross-sectional. Forty asymptomatic and volunteer individuals were included in the study. The 6-minute pegboard and ring test (6PBRT) was performed to assess the UUEEC. Spinal mobility was assessed to use a hand-held, computer-assisted electromechanical device. The analysis of spinal mobility in the sagittal (SAP – maximal extension/flexion) and the coronal (CRP – maximal left/right lateral flexion) plane was measured.
 Results: The 6PBRT score had significant correlation with the SAP spinal mobility (r=0.361, p=0.022) and the CRP spinal mobility (r=0.322, p=0.043). Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that the SAP spinal mobility was significant and independent determinants of the 6PBRT score with 11% of the variance.
 Conclusions: In this first study in the literature investigating the relationship between spinal mobility and the UUEEC, the SAP spinal mobility was found as a predictor of the UUEEC in asymptomatic individuals. This study demonstrates that the UUEEC can be improved by increasing spinal mobility.