title: Comparison of surface electromyographic activity of erector spinae before and after the application of central posteroanterior mobilisation on the lumbar spine.
abstract: Lumbar spine accessory movements, used by therapists in the treatment of patients with low back pain, is thought to decrease paravertebral muscular activity; however there is little research to support this suggestion. This study investigated the effects of lumbar spine accessory movements on surface electromyography (sEMG) activity of erector spinae. A condition randomised, placebo controlled, repeated measures design was used. sEMG measurements were recorded from 36 asymptomatic subjects following a control, placebo and central posteroanterior (PA) mobilisation to L3 each for 2min. The therapist stood on a force platform while applying the PA mobilisation to quantify the force used. The PA mobilisation applied to each subject had a mean maximum force of 103.3N, mean amplitude of force oscillation of 41.1N, and a frequency of 1.2Hz. Surface electromyographic data were recorded from the musculature adjacent to L3, L5 and T10. There were statistically significant reductions of 15.5% (95% CI: 8.0-22.5%) and 17.8% (95% CI: 12.9-22.4%) in mean sEMG values following mobilisation compared with the control and placebo, respectively. This study demonstrates that a central PA mobilisation to L3 results in a statistically significant decrease in the sEMG activity of erector spinae of an asymptomatic population.
authors: School of Health Professions, Technological Educational Institution of Lamia, Greece.
authors: Georgios
authors: G
authors: Krekoukias
authors: Nicola J
authors: NJ
authors: Petty
authors: Liz
authors: L
authors: Cheek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D020393:Manipulation, Spinal; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult