Influence of Physical Activity Level on Lumbar Movement Control
Condition: Low Back Pain
MeSH terms: Back Pain; Low Back Pain
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      This study aims to compare the two groups of low back pain and health adults. To investigate
      the relationship among lumbar movement control, standing balance and physical activity.
      Methods used in the study will be clinical tools such as proprioception test, lumbar movement
      control, timed one-leg- standing balance and Y-balance test according to the Mat.
    

Detailed description: 
      Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability that results in significant health and
      socioeconomic problems. Most of the LBP is non-specific and altered motor control is one of
      the possible causes. Motor control exercise (MCE) thus has been recently developed as a
      non-operative intervention for LBP. Recently, a series of lumbar movement control (LMC) tests
      have been advocated to evaluate impaired motor control of lumbar. To perform a coordinated
      movement pattern, normal proprioception (part of neural system) is thought to be essential.
      Poor proprioception related to delayed muscle response and altered motor control which
      possibly leading to deficits in postural control and balance in LBP population. Study showed
      standing balance was related to higher physical activity (PA) which has been promoted in all
      adults and proper amount is at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic
      physical activity; or at least 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical
      activity per week for substantial health benefits. As we know, there is no specific research
      about the relationship among PA, LMC and standing balance. Therefore, the purposes of the
      study are to investigate (1) the influence of different level of PA on LMC tests; (2) the
      influence of PA on standing balance; (3) the relationship of battery of LMC tests and
      standing balance in adults with and without LBP.

      It is expected to recruit total 160 participants with and without LBP. The inclusion criteria
      for adults with LBP are: (1) aged from 20 to 65 years old, (2) persistent LBP for more than 3
      months. For adults without LBP are: (1) aged from 20 to 65 years old, (2) no specific low
      back pain in the past 6 months. All the participants will fill in International PA
      Questionnaire (IPAQ), Short form Taiwan Version, perform proprioception test for the lumbar
      spine, LMC tests, timed one-leg standing balance, and Y-balance test for the lower quarter
      (YBT-LQ). After finishing the examination, all the data will be analyzed by mix analysis of
      variance (ANOVA) and Chi-square analysis. Bonferroni post-hoc tests will be used to identify
      the significance within each analysis. Level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

      Keywords: Physical activity, motor control exercise, lumbar movement control, standing
      balance, proprioception
    

Observational model: Case-Control
Time perspective: Cross-Sectional
Sampling method: Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Health adults and adults with LBP
      
Keywords: Physical activity; Lumbar movement control; Motor control exercise; Standing balance; Proprioception