Extensibility and stiffness of the hamstrings in patients with nonspecific low back pain.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the extensibility and stiffness of the hamstrings in patients with nonspecific low back pain (LBP).


METHODS
An experimental design.


METHODS
A university laboratory for human movement analysis in a department of rehabilitation medicine.


METHODS
Forty subjects, a patient group (20) and a healthy control group (20).


METHODS
Subjects laid supine on an examination table with a lift frame, with left leg placed in a sling at the ankle. Straight leg raising, pulling force, and activity of hamstring and back muscles were recorded with electrodes. Patients indicated when they experienced tension or pain.


METHODS
The lift force, leg excursion, pelvic-femoral angle, first sensation of pain, and the electromyogram of the hamstrings and back muscles measured in an experimental straight-leg raising set-up.


RESULTS
The patient group showed a significant restriction in range of motion (ROM) and extensibility of the hamstrings compared with the control group. No significant difference in hamstring muscle stiffness can be assessed between both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The restricted ROM and the decreased extensibility of the hamstrings in patients with nonspecific LBP is not caused by increased muscle stiffness of the hamstrings, but determined by the stretch tolerance of the patients.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. j.p.k.halbertsma@rev.azg.nl
J P
JP
Halbertsma
L N
LN
Göeken
A L
AL
Hof
J W
JW
Groothoff
W H
WH
Eisma
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008141:Lordosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular