Effects of spinal mobilisations on lumbar and hamstring ROM and sEMG: A randomised control trial

Influence of Lumbar Mobilizations During the Nordic Hamstring Exercise on Hamstring Measures of Knee Flexor Strength, Failure Point, and Muscle Activity: A Randomized Crossover Trial

“…38 This increase in EMG activity is likely due to the high level maximal eccentric activity compared to low level movement/activity and static conditions associated with previous EMG hamstring reductions. 33,37 Therefore, it is unclear if similar changes in extensibility would be apparent with previously reported EMG increases. Additionally, the study did not have access to a dynamometer, therefore it is unclear if force and torque also increased alongside muscle length changes.…”

“…Mobilizations were applied to the dominant side decided by kicking foot (right n = 24). 32,33,37,56 Spinal level was determined by passive physiological intervertebral movement and spinal palpation by the same physiotherapist. Grade 3 UPA lumbar mobilizations, defined as large amplitude oscillations into resistance, were applied to the L4/5 unilateral z-joint for 2 min, three times to reflect common clinical application and previous studies.…”

“…32 Both increased Biceps Femoris range of motion and reduced electromyography (EMG) activity, at the termination of active knee extension, following lumbar z-joint mobilizations has been demonstrated. 33 This EMG reduction is likely due to increased muscle spindle activity which stimulate golgi-tendon organs to produce a muscle reflex inhibition. [34][35][36] These changes in hamstring extensibility last between 15 and 20 minutes, 37 suggesting UPA lumbar zjoint mobilizations provide a limited time frame of hamstring adaptations.…”

Time-course changes associated with PA lumbar mobilizations on lumbar and hamstring range of motion: a randomized controlled crossover trial

“…Spinal mobilizations have been shown to increase hamstring extensibility, the ability of 13 the muscle tissue to lengthen or stretch beyond resting length, in both a general [18,19,20,21] and elite soccer population [22]. The acute increase in hamstring extensibility, 18 gained from lumbar mobilizations, together with reduced surface muscle electromyographic activity of the bicep femoris muscle [20] may offer a brief time-period 23 to provide therapy to attenuate progression through rehabilitation. Unilateral Posterior Anterior (UPA) mobilizations have been found to provide superior increases in extensibility of the hamstring compared to centrally applied mobilizations [21].…”

“…During the CON arm of the trial participant's lye prone on a plinth for a ten-minute period, the time it took for the clinician to explain, identity and perform the 18 lumbar mobilizations. To mitigate the effect of repeated assessment causing natural variations in tissue extensibility five AKE and four ALF were conducted prior to the 23 initial recorded assessment[20,21,22]. At repeated re-measurements the AKE and ALF were tested only once so not to influence tissue extensibility and measurement outcome.28 Subsequent tests were made at intervals of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45 and 60 minutes.…”