title: Comparison of spinal mobility and isometric trunk extensor forces with electromyographic spectral analysis in identifying low back pain.
abstract: This study compared conventional clinical measurements with electromyographic (EMG) spectral measurements for identification of individuals with low back pain (LBP). Twenty freshman sweep rowers were subjects for this study. Range-of-motion (ROM) measurements were taken for forward bending (FB), backward bending (BB) (double inclinometers), lateral bending (LB) (tape measure), and rotation (double-arm goniometer). Intratester reliability for ROM was also assessed. The Back Analysis System was used to determine static trunk extensor strength (ie, maximal voluntary contraction [MVC]) and to compute EMG spectral parameters from a paraspinal multi-electrode array. A two-group stepwise discriminant-analysis procedure for the ROM and MVC variables correctly identified 57% of the rowers with LBP and 63% of the rowers without LBP. A similar discriminant-analysis procedure for EMG spectral parameters correctly identified either 88% of the rowers with LBP and 100% of the rowers without LBP or 100% of the rowers with LBP and 88% of the rowers with LBP, depending on whether EMG measurements of recovery were calculated at 1 minute or at 2 minutes into the recovery period. Sensitivity (66%) and specificity (71%) results from the more traditional tests suggest that these techniques may be of limited usefulness for LBP screening or diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Sargent College of Allied Health Professions, Boston University, MA 02215.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Snyder-Mackler
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: DeLuca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013131:Spine / Q000502:physiology*