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Open Access
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Rev Bras Ortop (Sao Paulo) 2022; 57(03): 392-401
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1736199
Artigo Original

Gender-based Variations in Trunk Motion and Isometric Strength in Young Adults with Low Back Pain: A Prospective Case-control Study

Article in several languages: português | English

Authors

  • Shikha Jain 

    1   Departmento de Fisioterapia, QI Spine Clinic, Deli, Índia

  • Gautam Shetty 

    2   Departmento de Cirurgia Ortopédica, Knee & Orthopaedic Clinic, Mumbai; Diretor de Pesquisa, QI Spine Clinic, Mumbai, Índia

  • Pratiksha Munje 

    3   Departmento de Fisioterapia da Coluna, QI Spine Clinic, Deli, Índia

  • Anita Bhan 

    3   Departmento de Fisioterapia da Coluna, QI Spine Clinic, Deli, Índia

  • Sanya Linjhara 

    1   Departmento de Fisioterapia, QI Spine Clinic, Deli, Índia

  • CS Ram 

    4   Departamento de Fisioterapia, I.T.S Faculdade de Fisioterapia, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Índia

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Abstract

Objective To determine gender-based variations in trunk range of motion (RoM) and isometric strength (IS) in symptomatic and asymptomatic young adults.

Methods In this prospective case-control study, 73 subjects with low back pain (LBP) and 80 asymptomatic subjects were analyzed. Dynamometer-based device trunk RoM and IS measurements in extension, flexion, and rotation were compared in both groups and gender-based subgroups. Multivariate analysis was used to determine factors influencing trunk RoM and IS.

Results Symptomatic males had significantly less extension RoM and extension, flexion, and rotation isometric trunk strength (ITS) (p < 0.0001) compared with asymptomatic males, whereas no significant difference was found between asymptomatic and symptomatic females. However, the mean extension-flexion RoM and mean extension-flexion ITS ratios were significantly lower (p = 0.04) in asymptomatic females compared with symptomatic females. Female gender was significantly associated with less extension and flexion ITS in both asymptomatic and symptomatic subjects.

Conclusion Males with LBP had significant global ITS weakness when compared with asymptomatic males. Despite no significant ITS difference in symptomatic versus asymptomatic females, LBP caused significant extension-flexion RoM and ITS imbalance in females. These gender-based variations in trunk RoM and IS, especially the extensor-flexor IS imbalance in females, must be considered while designing rehabilitation treatment protocols for LBP.

Keywords

low back pain - muscle strength - range of motion, articular - isometric contraction - spine

Study performed at the QI Spine Clinic, India.




Publication History

Received: 04 March 2021

Accepted: 02 June 2021

Article published online:
11 November 2021

© 2021. Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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