Comparison of Trunk Proprioception Between Patients With Low Back Pain and Healthy Controls

Abstract

Objective To determine if proprioceptive impairments exist in patients with low back pain (LBP). We hypothesized that patients with LBP would exhibit larger trunk proprioception errors than healthy controls. Design Case-control study. Setting University laboratory. Participants 24 patients with non-specific LBP and 24 age-matched healthy controls. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures We measured trunk proprioception in all 3 anatomical planes using motion perception threshold, active repositioning, and passive repositioning tests. Results LBP patients had significantly greater motion perception threshold than controls (P<0.001)(1.3±0.9 vs. 0.8±0.6 degrees). Furthermore, all subjects had the largest motion perception threshold in the transverse plane (P<0.001) (1.2±0.7 vs. 1.0±0.8 degrees for all other planes averaged). There was no significant difference between LBP and healthy control groups in the repositioning tasks. Errors in active repositioning test were significantly smaller than in passive repositioning test (P=0.032) (1.9±1.2 vs. 2.3±1.4 degrees). Conclusions These findings suggest that impairments in proprioception may be detected in patients with LBP when assessed with a motion perception threshold measure.

Go-with-the-Flow: Tracking, Analysis and Sonification of Movement and Breathing to Build Confidence in Activity Despite Chronic Pain

“…Sonification of electromyographic data during rehabilitation can guide the person toward a target movement (Pauletto & Hunt, 2006); PhysioSonic (Vogt, Pirrò, Kobenz, Holdrich, & Eckel, 2009) transforms 3D movement analysis of shoulder joint kinematics into audio feedback to correct posture or coordinate a therapeutic exercise. This type of sonification can help coordination in patients with poor proprioception (Chez, Rikakis, Dubois, & Cook, 2000;Matsubara, Kadone, Iguchi, Terasawa, & Suzuki, 2013), a relevant problem for some people with CP (Lee, Cholewicki, Reeves, Zazulak, & Mysliwiec, 2010). However, it is important to understand how to design such sonification in order to provide effective support in CP physical rehabilitation that would go beyond physical performance to address psychological barriers and needs.…”

Effects of noxious stimulation to the back or calf muscles on gait stability

“…However, increased stiffness may coincide with reduced responsiveness. In addition, nociceptive input may impair proprioceptive acuity (Brumagne et al, 2000;Lee et al, 2010;Matre et al, 2002) and force regulation (Descarreaux et al, 2005;Salomoni et al, 2013) which could reduce stability. The effect of pain on gait stability is likely to depend on the region that is painful and, if muscle is painful, on its biomechanical role in gait.…”

Effects of Chemotherapy-Induced-Peripheral-Neuropathy on Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters and Fall Risk in Cancer Patients After the Completion of Chemotherapy Drug Treatment

“…For example, if pain is presence in the calf, the calf muscle may not be as responsive, as indicated by a decrease in contractions, resulting in a decrease in the range of motion the ankle joint may undergo during gait (Hodges & Tucker, 2011;Lund, Donga, Widmer, & Stohler, 2011;van Dieën, Selen, & Cholewicki, 2003). The combination of increased joint stiffness, decreased responsiveness of the tissues, and the EFFECTS OF CIPN ON GAIT AND FALL RISK 91 presence of impaired nociceptive afferent fibers, with decreasing proprioceptive acuity and the inability to regulate force, may result in a decrease in stability (Brumagne, Cordo, Lysens, Verschueren, & Swinnen, 2000;Descarreaux, Blouin, & Teasdale, 2005;Hodges et al, 2011;Lee, Cholewicki, Reeves, Zazulak, & Mysliwiec, 2010;Matre, Arendt-Nielsen, & Knardahl, 2002;Salomoni, Ejaz, Laursen, & Graven-Nielsen, 2013;van den Hoorn, Bruijn, Meijer, Hodges, & van Dieën, 2012).…”