Lumbopelvic Posture Research Articles

Cumulative postural exposure measured by a novel device: a preliminary study

The aim of the present study was to examine the within-day reliability of the Spineangel® postural monitoring device and to measure cumulative lumbo-pelvic posture exposure of health care workers. Twenty-one workers from an aged-care residential home wore the Spineangel, attached to the belt or waistband of their normal work apparel, during a period of the work shift. To assess the within-day reliability of measurements, 11 workers performed two sets of three lumbo-pelvic forward flexion, sustaining them for five 5 s each, at the beginning and at the end of the work shift. Different thresholds for cumulative postural exposure were measured. The reliability was found to be excellent (ICC = 0.81). On average, a threshold of 30° of lumbo-pelvic forward flexion was exceeded 1069 times/h (SD 2157.1); at 45°, 121 times/h (SD 223.8); and at 60°, 8 times/h (SD 21.8). The use of Spineangel isthus likely to be a useful device for monitoring work posture. Statement of Relevance: The Spineangel® is capable of providing reliable postural measurements in the workplace. Different cumulative postural exposure thresholds were established considering three domains of cumulative exposure: magnitude (range of motion), frequency and duration. The implementation of such domains for cumulative exposure allowed us to explore interesting forms of monitoring posture exposure.

The role of lumbopelvic posture in pelvic floor muscle activation in continent women

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of changing standing lumbopelvic posture on pelvic floor muscle (PFM) activation amplitude and timing and the resultant vaginal manometry values recorded during static and dynamic tasks. Sixteen nulliparous, continent women between the ages of 22 and 41 years performed five tasks (quiet standing, maximal effort cough, Valsalva manoeuvre, maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of the PFMs, and a load-catching task) in three different standing postures (normal lumbopelvic posture, hyperlordosis and hypolordosis). Electromyographic (EMG) data were recorded from the PFMs bilaterally using a Periform™ vaginal probe coupled to Delsys™ Bagnoli-8 EMG amplifiers. In separate trials, vaginal manometry was obtained using a Peritron™ perineometer. Lumbopelvic angle was recorded simultaneously with EMG and vaginal manometry using an Optotrak™ 3D motion analysis system to ensure that subjects maintained the required posture throughout the three trials of each task. All data were filtered using a moving 100 ms RMS window and peak values were determined for each trial and task. Repeated-measures analyses of variance were performed on the peak PFM EMG, intra-vaginal pressure amplitudes, and lumbopelvic angles as well as activation onset data for the cough and load-catching tasks. There was significantly higher resting PFM activity in all postures in standing as compared to supine, and in the standing position, there was higher resting PFM activity in the hypo-lordotic posture as compared to the normal and hyperlordotic postures. During the MVC, cough, Valsalva, and load-catching tasks, subjects generated significantly more PFM EMG activity when in their habitual posture than when in hyper- or hypo-lordotic postures. Conversely, higher peak vaginal manometry values were generated in the hypo-lordotic posture for all tasks in all cases. These results clearly indicate that changes in lumbopelvic posture influence both the contractility of the PFMs and the amount of vaginal pressure generated during static postures and during dynamic tasks. Lumbopelvic posture does not, however, appear to have a significant effect on the timing of PFM activation during coughing or load-catching tasks.

Relationships between prolonged neck/shoulder pain and sitting spinal posture in male and female adolescents

Neck/shoulder pain (NSP) is a common problem for adolescents and posture has been suggested as an important risk factor. The aim of this cross sectional study was to examine the relationship between prolonged NSP and habitual sitting posture in adolescents. The habitual sitting postures of 1593, 14-year-old adolescents with and without prolonged NSP were assessed using sagittal plane digital photographs. Cervicothoracic and lumbopelvic posture angles were calculated from the digital images using motion analysis software. Adolescents reported experience of NSP by questionnaire. Differences between postures of males and females and those with and without prolonged NSP were examined using independent t-tests. The relationships between cervicothoracic and lumbopelvic postures and presence of prolonged NSP were investigated using logistic regression models controlling for gender. Prolonged NSP was reported by 5.3% of the adolescents, with females reporting a higher prevalence rate (6.5%) than males (4.2%). Females also sat more erect with a more lordotic lumbar posture than males. Adolescents with prolonged NSP had more flexed cervicothoracic posture, more erect trunk and more lumbar lordosis. When gender was controlled, only lumbar lordosis was related to the presence of prolonged NSP.

The relationship beween posture and back muscle endurance in industrial workers with flexion-related low back pain

This preliminary cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine if there were measurable relationships between posture, back muscle endurance and low back pain (LBP) in industrial workers with a reported history of flexion strain injury and flexion pain provocation. Clinical reports state that subjects with flexion pain disorders of the lumbar spine commonly adopt passive flexed postures such as slump sitting and present with associated dysfunction of the spinal postural stabilising musculature. However, to date there is little empirical evidence to support that patients with back pain, posture their spines differently than pain-free subjects. Subjects included 21 healthy industrial workers and 24 industrial workers with flexion-provoked LBP. Lifestyle information, lumbo-pelvic posture in sitting, standing and lifting, and back muscle endurance were measured. LBP subjects had significantly reduced back muscle endurance ( P < 0.01 ) . LBP subjects sat with less hip flexion, ( P = 0.05 ) , suggesting increased posterior pelvic tilt in sitting. LBP subjects postured their spines significantly closer to their end of range lumbar flexion in ‘usual’ sitting than the healthy controls ( P < 0.05 ) . Correlations between increased time spent sitting, physical inactivity and poorer back muscle endurance were also identified. There were no significant differences found between the groups for the standing and lifting posture measures. These preliminary results support that a relationship may exist between flexed spinal postures, reduced back muscle endurance, physical inactivity and LBP in subjects with a history of flexion injury and pain.

The Effect of Hamstring Muscle Stretching on Standing Posture and on Lumbar and Hip Motions During Forward Bending

The purpose of this study was to determine whether stretching the hamstring muscles affects extensibility, as indicated by straight leg raising (SLR), lumbopelvic posture, and the relative amounts of lumbar and hip motion during forward bending. Thirty-nine subjects without known musculoskeletal impairments of their spine or lower extremities and with tight hamstring muscles (ie, SLR of < or = 70 degrees) were randomly assigned to either a stretching group or a control group. A three-dimensional digitizer was used to measure lumbar, pelvic, and hip positions while subjects were in a standing position and during partial and full forward bending. Straight leg raising and hip motion during late and total forward bending were increased after stretching. No changes occurred in standing posture or lumbar motion during forward bending. The results of this study suggest that there is no relationship between hamstring muscle length and lumbopelvic posture. There was some indication, however, that stretching the hamstring muscles may affect motion during forward bending.