Effect of Increased Lumbar Lordosis on Lumbar Multifidus and Longissimus Thoracis Activation During Quadruped Exercise in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: An EMG Study

in Journal of Applied Biomechanics

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Jayshree ShahJamia Millia Islamia

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Tarushi TanwarJamia Millia Islamia

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Iram IramJamia Millia Islamia

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Mosab AldabbasJamia Millia Islamia

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Zubia VeqarJamia Millia Islamia

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jab.2020-0040
Keywords:
electromyography; exercise; paraspinal muscles; quadruped stabilization exercise
First Published Online:
22 Sep 2020
In Print:
Volume 36: Issue 6
Page Range:
436–443
Restricted access

The objective was to investigate the electromyographic activity of the lumbar multifidus (MF) muscle and longissimus thoracis muscle, along with their activity ratio (MF longissimus thoracis ratio), during quadruped stabilization exercise performed with neutral posture and with increased lumbar lordosis in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). A total of 23 patients with CLBP (12 females and 11 males) were recruited based on inclusion and exclusion criterion. Each patient performed 4 exercises in random order, with surface electromyography electrodes and an electrogoniometer attached. A cross-sectional study design was used to measure the amplitude of muscle activation (as a percentage of maximum voluntary contraction) in each patient across the 2 muscles (MF and longissimus thoracis) during quadruped stabilization exercise with neutral posture and with increased lumbar lordosis. A 2-way analysis of variance was conducted, which demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the recruitment of MF with increased lumbar lordosis in patients with CLBP during quadruped exercise. An increase of 9.7% and 16.9% maximum voluntary contraction in MF electromyographic activity was observed in lumbar lordosis posture during the quadruped leg raise and quadruped leg-arm raise exercise, respectively (P < .01), when compared to the neutral posture. The increased recruitment of MF with lumbar lordosis in the quadruped position has strong implications in the assessment and management of patients with CLBP.

The authors are with the Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India.

Veqar (veqar.zubia@gmail.com) is corresponding author.
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