Lumbar Proprioception in Lower Back Pain Patients Versus Healthy Subjects : a Comparative Study on the Effects of Low- and High-frequency Muscle Vibrations
Condition: Back Pain
MeSH terms: Back Pain; Low Back Pain
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The primary objective of this study is to compare the lumbar proprioception of patients with
      chronic back pain to that of healthy volunteers during low- and high-frequency muscle
      vibration.

      The order of measures (low frequency of vibration, high frequency vibration and no vibration)
      is randomized in a cross-over design.

      Patients and volunteers are matched by age and body mass index.
    

Detailed description: 
      The secondary objectives of this study are:

      A-Measure the effect of low- and high-frequency vibrations on lumbar repositioning in
      patients with chronic lower back pain.

      B-Measure the effect of low- and high-frequency vibrations on lumbar repositioning in healthy
      volunteers.

      Our working hypothesis is that low frequency vibrations induce an illusion of shortening, and
      high frequency vibrations induce an illusion of elongation. The variability of the error
      should not increase.
    

Intervention name(s): Calibration; Practice; Measures - no vibration; Measures - low vibration; Measures - high vibration
Intervention type(s): Other; Other; Other; Other; Other
Intervention description(s): Subjects will be seated on a table, feet dangling, blindfolded, arms crossed over the chest and held in place by bandages to minimize the visual and proprioceptive inputs that may contribute to the realization of the task.
The investigator uses an electronic goniometer to measure the maximal extension and flexion during a pelvic pivot. These measures will be used to determine a "target" position midway along the pelvic movement range.; Propioception test: The movement required is flexion - extension of the lumbar spine without moving the shoulders; it is a pelvic rocking motion. The patients will be helped to the target position by the investigator. After keeping the target position for 5 seconds, they will be asked to completely pivot the pelvis to a forward position, then return to the target position.
Each subject will have three (non-measured) tries at the proprioception test without vibration, then three tries with low frequency vibration (20 Hertz), and then three tries with high frequency vibration (60 Hertz). Between each series of tries, a 2-minute rest period with walking is required.; The movements required are performed without vibration.
The movement required is flexion - extension of the lumbar spine without moving the shoulders; it is a pelvic rocking motion. The patients will be helped to the target position by the investigator. After keeping the target position for 5 seconds, they will be asked to completely pivot the pelvis to a forward position, then return to the target position. This test is repeated five times.
The investigator measures the lumbar angle using an electronic goniometer twice during each of the five tests: once after the patient is helped to the target angle, and once after the patient tries to "remember" the target angle by his/herself.; The movements required are performed with low frequency vibration (20 Hertz on following device: VIBRALGIC 5; manufacturer = Electronique Conseil).
The movement required is flexion - extension of the lumbar spine without moving the shoulders; it is a pelvic rocking motion. The patients will be helped to the target position by the investigator. After keeping the target position for 5 seconds, they will be asked to completely pivot the pelvis to a forward position, then return to the target position. This test is repeated five times.
The investigator measures the lumbar angle using an electronic goniometer twice during each of the five tests: once after the patient is helped to the target angle, and once after the patient tries to "remember" the target angle by his/herself.; The movements required are performed with low frequency vibration (20 Hertz on following device: VIBRALGIC 5; manufacturer = Electronique Conseil).
The movement required is flexion - extension of the lumbar spine without moving the shoulders; it is a pelvic rocking motion. The patients will be helped to the target position by the investigator. After keeping the target position for 5 seconds, they will be asked to completely pivot the pelvis to a forward position, then return to the target position. This test is repeated five times.
The investigator measures the lumbar angle using an electronic goniometer twice during each of the five tests: once after the patient is helped to the target angle, and once after the patient tries to "remember" the target angle by his/herself.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Basic Science
Keywords: vibration; proprioception