title: Muscle reflex classification of low-back pain.
abstract: It has been well documented that low-back pain (LBP) patients have longer muscle response latencies to perturbation than healthy controls. These muscle responses appear to be reflexive and not voluntary in nature, and as a result, might be useful for objectively classifying LBP. The goal of the study was to develop an objective and accurate method for classifying LBP using a sudden load-release protocol. Subjects were divided into two groups: learning group (20 patients and 20 controls), and holdout group (15 patients and 12 controls). Subjects exerted isometric trunk force against a cable in four different directions. Following cable release, the trunk was suddenly displaced eliciting a muscle reflex response. Reflex latencies for muscles switching-on and shutting-off were determined using electromyogram signals from 8 trunk muscles. Independent t tests were performed on the learning group to determine which reflex parameters were to be entered into logistic regression analysis to produce a classification model. The holdout group was used to validate this classification model. The three-parameter model was able to correctly classify 83% of the learning group, and 81% of the holdout group. Using reflex parameters appears to be an accurate and objective method for classifying LBP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Neuromuscular Control Laboratory, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6.
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Reeves
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cholewicki
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Milner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000145:classification* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology