title: Lumbar flexion and dynamic EMG among persons with single level disk herniation pre- and postsurgery with radicular low-back pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The paraspinal muscles often fail to relax on forward flexion in many persons with low-back pain. The goal of this prospective study was to determine whether this abnormal lack of a flexion-relaxation phenomenon corrects after lumbar diskectomy for symptoms of radiculopathy with low-back pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electromyographic testing was performed on 17 patients before and 30 days after lumbar diskectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although pain improved significantly (P < 0.05), the flexion-relaxation phenomenon did not improve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Failure to recover muscle relaxation while pain is relieved suggests another mechanism for paraspinal activity.
authors.affiliation: Spine Program, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Agnes S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Wallbom
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Geisser
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Haig
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guido
authors.forename: Julian T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors