title: Lumbopelvic flexibility modulates neuromuscular responses during trunk flexion-extension.
abstract: Various stimuli such as the flexibility of lumbopelvic structures influence the neuromuscular responses of the trunk musculature, leading to different load sharing strategies and reflex muscle responses from the afferents of lumbopelvic mechanoreceptors. This link between flexibility and neuromuscular response has been poorly studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between lumbopelvic flexibility and neuromuscular responses of the erector spinae, hamstring and abdominal muscles during trunk flexion-extension. Lumbopelvic movement patterns were measured in 29 healthy women, who were separated into two groups according to their flexibility during trunk flexion-extension. The electromyographic responses of erector spinae, rectus abdominis and biceps femoris were also recorded. Subjects with greater lumbar flexibility had significantly less pelvic flexibility and vice versa. Subjects with greater pelvic flexibility had a higher rate of relaxation and lower levels of hamstring activation during maximal trunk flexion. The neuromuscular response patterns of the hamstrings seem partially modulated by pelvic flexibility. Not so with the lumbar erector spinae and lumbar flexibility, despite the assertions of some previous studies. The results of this study improve our knowledge of the relationships between trunk joint flexibility and neuromuscular responses, a relationship which may play a role in low back pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de València, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez n° 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: Daniel.Sanchez@uv.es.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Zuriaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de València, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez n° 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain; Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia (IBV), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n., 46022 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Artacho-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University CEU-Cardenal Herrera, Avda. Seminario s/n., 46113 Moncada, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biviá-Roig
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010388:Pelvis / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012026:Reflex, Stretch
keywords: Biceps femoris; Electromyography; Erector spinae; Flexibility; Rectus abdominis; Trunk flexion–extension