Kinematic Differences in Lumbopelvic and Hip Movement Patterns during a Lower Limb Movement Test between Two Groups of People with Low Back Pain

Abstract

Increased lumbopelvic motion during limb movements' tests was reported in low back pain (LBP) patients with and without rotational demand activities. The aim of this study was to compare lumbopelvic movement pattern between two groups of LBP patients with and without rotational demand activity during active hip external rotation test. A total of 39 patients with non-specific chronic LBP participated in this study. Patients were allocated into two groups, in first group 15 subjects (mean age = 31: 5 years) with rotational demand activities such as tennis, squash and golf, and in second group 24 subjects (mean age = 31: 2) without rotational demand activities participated in current study. Kinematic data from lumbopelvic-hip region during active hip external rotation test (AHER) were collected by a 3D motion analysis system. Variables including range of motion (ROM) of hip external rotation, pelvic rotation, pelvic rotation during first half of hip rotation motion and timing of pelvic-hip movement were calculated by MATLAB software for both sides and after this, independent t-test was used to compare the variables between two groups of study. The mean lumbopelvic rotation in lower extremities tests for both sides and lumbopelvic rotation in the dominant limb external rotation test in the patients with rotational demand activities were significantly more than other group (p < 0.05). During dominant lower limb movement test, pelvic rotation in first half of movement and in patients with rotational activities was greater than in non-rotational group but hip rotation was statistically lesser than other group (p < 0.05). Other variables between the two groups were not significantly different (p > 0.05). The result of the study suggest that LBP patients who have rotational demand sports activities may move their lumbopelvic region in a greater magnitude during the AHER test than LBP people without rotational demand activities. Therefore, Lumbopelvic movement pattern in different groups of patients with LBP and based on their specific activities is different with each other.