Trunk and hip muscles activation patterns in subjects with and without chronic low back pain: a systematic review

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine normal and abnormal patterns of activation of gluteus maximus (GM), hamstring (HAM), contralateral erector spinae (CES), and ipsilateral erector spinae (IES) muscles during a prone hip extension test in healthy or asymptomatic subjects and those with non-specific chronic low back pain through a systematic review. Studies were recognized by searching electronic databases (Embase, MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, PEDro [Physiotherapy Evidence Database], and CINAHL) and scanning articles reference lists from the beginning until July 2018. Limits involved studies in the English language and performed among humans. Of 2112 citations and reference lists scanned, 15 articles were determined to be relevant to this review. From these studies, 4 investigated 157 subjects (88 asymptomatic and 69 with low back pain), and 11 investigated 257 healthy subjects. The results of the moderate and weak quality studies indicate that the HAM and ES muscles are activated early and almost simultaneously, but GM is consistently delayed in relation to leg movement and the other 3 muscles in healthy individuals. In low back pain subjects, CES are delayed and GM is significantly delayed in individuals who showed abnormal lumbar motions when compared with healthy ones.