Reduced quadriceps activation after lumbar paraspinal fatiguing exercise.

CONTEXT Although poor paraspinal muscle endurance has been associated with less quadriceps activation (QA) in persons with a history of low back pain, no authors have addressed the acute neuromuscular response after lumbar paraspinal fatiguing exercise. OBJECTIVE To compare QA after lumbar paraspinal fatiguing exercise in healthy individuals and those with a history of low back pain. DESIGN A 2 x 4 repeated-measures, time-series design. SETTING Exercise and Sport Injury Laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Sixteen volunteers participated (9 males, 7 females; 8 controls and 8 with a history of low back pain; age = 24.1 +/- 3.1 years, height = 173.4 +/- 7.1 cm, mass = 72.4 +/- 12.1 kg). INTERVENTION(S) Subjects performed 3 sets of isometric lumbar paraspinal fatiguing muscle contractions. Exercise sets continued until the desired shift in lumbar paraspinal electromyographic median power frequency was observed. Baseline QA was compared with QA after each exercise set. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) An electric burst was superimposed while subjects performed a maximal quadriceps contraction. We used the central activation ratio to calculate QA = (F(MVIC)/[F(MVIC) + F(Burst)])* 100, where F = force and MVIC = maximal voluntary isometric contractions. Quadriceps electromyographic activity was collected at the same time as QA measurements to permit calculation of median frequency during MVIC. RESULTS Average QA decreased from baseline (87.4% +/- 8.2%) after the first (84.5% +/- 10.5%), second (81.4% +/- 11.0%), and third (78.2% +/- 12.7%) fatiguing exercise sets. On average, the group with a history of low back pain showed significantly more QA than controls. No significant change in quadriceps median frequency was noted during the quadriceps MVICs. CONCLUSIONS The quadriceps muscle group was inhibited after lumbar paraspinal fatiguing exercise in the absence of quadriceps fatigue. This effect may be different for people with a history of low back pain compared with healthy controls.

[1]  J J Eng,et al.  Reliability of surface EMG during sustained contractions of the quadriceps. , 2005, Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology.

[2]  C. Ingersoll,et al.  Arthrogenic muscle response induced by an experimental knee joint effusion is mediated by pre- and post-synaptic spinal mechanisms. , 2004, Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology.

[3]  An experimental knee joint effusion does not affect plasma catecholamine concentration in humans , 2004, Neuroscience Letters.

[4]  Kevin B Shelburne,et al.  Mechanisms of compensating for anterior cruciate ligament deficiency during gait. , 2004, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[5]  A. Plamondon,et al.  Back muscle fatigue during intermittent prone back extension exercise , 2004, Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports.

[6]  R. Kiss,et al.  Gait adaptation in ACL deficient patients before and after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery. , 2004, Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology.

[7]  Mary Lloyd Ireland,et al.  Core stability measures as risk factors for lower extremity injury in athletes. , 2004, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[8]  L. Osternig,et al.  Bilateral accommodations to anterior cruciate ligament deficiency and surgery. , 2004, Clinical biomechanics.

[9]  C. Ingersoll,et al.  Arthrogenic muscle response to a simulated ankle joint effusion , 2004, British Journal of Sports Medicine.

[10]  Alf Thorstensson,et al.  Central and peripheral contributions to fatigue in relation to level of activation during repeated maximal voluntary isometric plantar flexions. , 2004, Journal of applied physiology.

[11]  Jiann-Jong Liau,et al.  Evaluation of shoulder proprioception following muscle fatigue. , 2003, Clinical biomechanics.

[12]  Michael L Madigan,et al.  Changes in landing biomechanics during a fatiguing landing activity. , 2003, Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology.

[13]  Lynn Snyder-Mackler,et al.  Quadriceps strength and volitional activation before and after total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis , 2003, Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society.

[14]  U Della Croce,et al.  Muscle Fatigue and Fatigue-Related Biomechanical Changes During a Cyclic Lifting Task , 2003, Spine.

[15]  D. Stegeman,et al.  Relative contributions of central and peripheral factors to fatigue during a maximal sustained effort , 2003, European Journal of Applied Physiology.

[16]  L. Snyder-Mackler,et al.  Voluntary activation and decreased force production of the quadriceps femoris muscle after total knee arthroplasty. , 2003, Physical therapy.

[17]  F. G. Pérez.  Orthopedic physical assessment , 2003 .

[18]  M. Bilodeau,et al.  EMG frequency content changes with increasing force and during fatigue in the quadriceps femoris muscle of men and women. , 2003, Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology.

[19]  Paolo Bonato,et al.  Reliability of EMG time-frequency measures of fatigue during repetitive lifting. , 2002, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[20]  J. Cholewicki,et al.  Relative contribution of trunk muscles to the stability of the lumbar spine during isometric exertions. , 2002, Clinical biomechanics.

[21]  T. Ivanova,et al.  Reflex inhibition during muscle fatigue in endurance-trained and sedentary individuals , 2002, European Journal of Applied Physiology.

[22]  D. Lindsay,et al.  Back Muscle Fatigability Is Associated With Knee Extensor Inhibition in Subjects With Low Back Pain , 2001, Spine.

[23]  Robert C. Bray,et al.  Quadriceps Activation During Knee Extension Exercises in Patients With ACL Pathologies , 2001 .

[24]  S. Gandevia.  Spinal and supraspinal factors in human muscle fatigue. , 2001, Physiological reviews.

[25]  C. Ingersoll,et al.  Arthrogenic Muscle inhibition: A Limiting Factor in Joint Rehabilitation , 2000 .

[26]  M. Torry,et al.  Intra-articular knee joint effusion induces quadriceps avoidance gait patterns. , 2000, Clinical biomechanics.

[27]  S. Hurwitz,et al.  Lower extremity compensations following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. , 2000, Physical Therapy.

[28]  W. Herzog,et al.  Conservative lower back treatment reduces inhibition in knee-extensor muscles: a randomized controlled trial. , 2000, Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics.

[29]  S. Taimela,et al.  The effect of lumbar fatigue on the ability to sense a change in lumbar position. A controlled study. , 1999, Spine.

[30]  Jane A. Kent-Braun,et al.  Central and peripheral contributions to muscle fatigue in humans during sustained maximal effort , 1999, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[31]  R. Shapiro,et al.  Crossover cutting during hamstring fatigue produces transverse plane knee control deficits. , 1999, Journal of athletic training.

[32]  W. Herzog,et al.  Decrease in quadriceps inhibition after sacroiliac joint manipulation in patients with anterior knee pain. , 1999, Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics.

[33]  G Németh,et al.  Correlation between electromyographic spectral changes and subjective assessment of lumbar muscle fatigue in subjects without pain from the lower back. , 1999, Clinical biomechanics.

[34]  D. Laaksonen,et al.  Back and hip extensor fatigability in chronic low back pain patients and controls. , 1998, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[35]  A. Nitz,et al.  The effect of quadriceps femoris, hamstring, and placebo eccentric fatigue on knee and ankle dynamics during crossover cutting. , 1997, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy.

[36]  P. Hodges,et al.  Contraction of the abdominal muscles associated with movement of the lower limb. , 1997, Physical therapy.

[37]  P. Fowler,et al.  Effects of Fatigue on Knee Proprioception , 1997, Clinical journal of sport medicine : official journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine.

[38]  R. Shapiro,et al.  Fatigue after eccentric quadriceps femoris work produces earlier gastrocnemius and delayed quadriceps femoris activation during crossover cutting among normal athletic women , 1997, Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy.

[39]  O. D. Schipplein,et al.  The Effects of Quadriceps Fatigue on the Technique of Lifting , 1993, Spine.