Does reduced hamstring flexibility affect trunk and pelvic movement strategies during manual handling? (original) (raw)
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Sagittal trunk movements during load carrying activities: a pilot study
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 2003
The objective of this study was to describe trunk movements in sedentary subjects, and in workers with and without musculoskeletal symptoms, when carrying loads in simulated tasks. The 38 subjects who participated in this study were divided into 4 groups, consisting of 9 male students, 10 female students, 10 female symptomatic industrial workers and 9 asymptomatic industrial workers. The trunk movements of all subjects were recorded by a biaxial back electrogoniometer when carrying loads between surfaces of different heights. An analysis of variance for repeated measures were performed, which was followed by the Duncan post hoc test for comparison of anthropometrical data between subjects, amplitude of movement, and time spent in each movement per group and per experimental condition. The height of the surfaces to which the loads were carried to or from, significantly influenced the trunk positions during handling (po0:01), as if subjects were anticipating the target position whilst handling. Also, more time was spent in flexion (po0:01) than in extension. These aspects increase the risks of possible injury in such activities.
Effects of hamstring stretch with pelvic control on pain and work ability in standing workers
Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 2016
BACKGROUND: Hamstring tightness induces posterior pelvic tilt and decreased lumbar lordosis, which can result in low back pain OBJECTIVE: We investigated effects of hamstring stretch with pelvic control on pain and work ability in standing workers. METHODS: One hundred adult volunteers from a standing workers were randomly assigned to pelvic control hamstring stretching (PCHS) (n = 34), general hamstring stretching (GHS) (n = 34), control (n = 32) groups. The control group was performed self-home exercise. All interventions were conducted 3 days per week for 6 weeks, and included in the hamstring stretching and lumbopelvic muscle strengthening. Outcomes were evaluated through the visual analog scale (VAS), straight leg raise test (SLR), sit and reach test (SRT), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and work ability index (WAI). RESULTS: Significant difference in VAS, SLR, SRT, ODI, and WAI were found in the PCHS and GHS groups. The control group was a significant difference only in ODI. The PCHS group showed a greater difference than the GHS group and control group in VAS, SLR, SRT, and ODI. CONCLUSIONS: The pelvic control hamstring stretch exercise would be more helpful in back pain reduction and improvement of work ability in an industrial setting.
Asian Spine Journal, 2015
Cross-sectional study. To verify the association of hamstring tightness and range of motion in anterior pelvic tilt (PT), lumbar motion (LM), and trunk flexion (TF) during forward bending. Increased hamstring stiffness could be a possible contributing factor to low back injuries. Clinical observations have suggested that hamstring tightness influences lumbar pelvic rhythm. Movement restrictions or postural asymmetry likely lead to compensatory movement patterns of the lumbar spine, and subsequently to increased stress on the spinal soft tissues and an increased risk of low back pain (LBP). Hamstring muscle tightness was measured using the self-monitored active knee extension (AKE) test. A bubble inclinometer was used to determine the range of motion of PT, LM, and TF during forward bending. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, comparisons between groups and a correlation between hamstring tightness (AKE) and anterior PT, TF, and regional LM with p≤0.05. The LBP group was composed of 36 participants, and the asymptomatic group consisted of 32 participants. The mean for PT in the control group was 66.7°, 64.5° for LM and 104.6° for TF. Respective values in the symptomatic group were 57.0°, 79.8°, and 82.2°. Participants with LBP showed restriction in the pelvis and TF range of motion, but had higher amplitudes in the lumbar spine during forward bending.
Journal of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, 2021
Introduction: Clinical evidence suggests that hamstring tightness influences lumbar pelvic rhythm and shortened hamstring increase the risk of injury to the spine. Objectives: To determine the association of hamstring tightness with pelvic tilt in standing position, trunk, and lumbar range of motion during forward bending among sewing machine operators Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 169 sewing machine operators aged 18-55 years using passive knee extension test, tri-goniometric method, finger to floor test and modified Schober test to measure hamstring tightness, pelvic tilt, trunk flexion and lumbar flexion, respectively. Results: A weak negative correlation between hamstring tightness and lumbar range of motion during forward bending (r=-0.28; p=0.001). A significant association between trunk flexion and hamstring tightness (r=0.47; p=0.001). Conclusions & Recommendations: Hamstring tightness affects the lumbar and trunk range of motion during forward bending.
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2006
The purpose of this study was to determine if an association exists between hamstring muscle length and the angle of pelvic tilt during forward bending in a student sporting population. A bubble goniometer was used to determine angle of pelvic tilt, and the active knee extension (AKE) test used to assess hamstring muscle length in 21 asymptomatic subjects. The forward bending task was matched to the tibial length of each subject. Mean AKE was 146.51 (79.01) and mean angle of pelvic tilt 15.51 (76.91). No association was found between hamstring muscle length and total angle of pelvic tilt (r ¼ 0:045) in people with extensibility of the hamstrings within normal limits.
Clinical Biomechanics, 2002
To compare two groups of worker with and without upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms when simulating handling tasks, regarding trunk movements and load support. Simultaneous lumbar movements and load support were quantified by a flexible electrogoniometer and load cell, respectively. Workers can adopt different motor strategies to perform similar tasks, possibly resulting in different physical demands. No previous studies on different movement patterns as a possible strategy for coping with physical demands by injured workers are available. 9 asymptomatic and 10 symptomatic industrial workers, carried a device for measuring contact between load and trunk during simulated tasks. An ANOVA was performed to compare results between symptomatic and asymptomatic workers. Most of the symptomatic workers supported the load on their trunk, whilst most of the asymptomatic workers did not. Higher values of lumbar flexion occurred for the symptomatic workers (P<0.05). Apparently, differences in movement and load support were adopted by injured workers as a possible strategy to share upper limb overload with other body regions. Workers suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders may adopt different motor strategies to cope with their job physical demands. An effort should be made to reallocate injured workers if major cost is to be avoided.
Objectives: As the hamstrings and lumbar extensors have their muscular origin in the pelvis, there may be possible relationship among these structures. So weakness or inflexibility of one structure may correspondingly change the strength and position of the other to maintain pelvis control, which may lead to development of low back pain. So the aim of the study is to compare the prevalence of hamstrings tightness in subjects with chronic low back pain versus normal individuals. Methods: A comparative study was conducted at S.B.B. College of Physiotherapy. A convenience sample of 60 participants with age group between 20 to 60 years was taken, 30 in each group. Group A were patients with chronic low back pain who were not taking any physiotherapy treatment and Group B were age and gender matched normal individuals. For both the groups, persons with previous history of knee injury, knee deformity and fractures around knee joint with limited range of movement and radiating pain were excluded. Patients with low back pain of more than 3 months and normal individuals who were not involved in any flexibility programme were approached and flexibility of hamstrings was measured by active knee extension test. Results: Means of hamstrings flexibility in groups A & B were compared using Mann Whitney U test. Mean degree of hamstrings tightness for A=31.63°±8.34°, B=14.30°±9.70°, U=81.00, p<0.01.Conclusion: There was significant difference of hamstrings flexibility between patients having chronic low back pain and age and gender matched normal individuals.
Journal of Sports Sciences, 2020
An association has been reported between dynamic anterior pelvic tilt (APT) and hamstring injuries; however, no research has examined if a training-based preventive intervention could alter APT. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine if a specific 6-week multimodal intervention, based on the theoretical influence of neighbouring joints and biomechanical interactions between muscles that are inserted to the pelvis, induced changes in APT, during walking gait, hamstring flexibility and trunk endurance. Thirty-five active healthy males volunteered for this single-blind controlled trial and were split into two groups based on baseline data: a control group (CG, n = 20, continued their normal physical activities), and an intervention group (IG, n = 15, performed the intervention programme for 18 sessions over 6 weeks). A significant (p = 0.001) decrease in the APT kinematics during gait, significant increase in the Active Knee Extension Test (p = 0.001), and a significant increase in trunk endurance performance for flexion (p = 0.001), extension (p = 0.001) and side bridge (p = 0.001) were observed, in IG after the 6-week programme, compared to CG.
Applied Ergonomics, 2013
The objective of this study was to examine the effect of wearing restrictive trousers on lumbar spine movement, trunk muscle activity and low back discomfort (LBD) in simulations of manual material handling (MMH) tasks. Twenty-eight young adults participated in the study performing box lifting, liquid container handling while squatting, and forward reaching while sitting on a task chair when wearing tight pants (sizes too small for the wearer) vs. fit pants (correct size according to anthropometry). Each task was repeated three times and video recordings were used as a basis for measuring lumbar range of motion (LRoM). The response was normalized in terms on baseline hip mobility. Trunk muscle activity of rectus abdominis (RA) and erector spinae (ES) muscles were also measured in each trial and normalized. At the close of each trial, participants rated LBD using a visual analog scale. Results revealed significant effects of both pants and task types on the normalized LRoM, trunk muscle activity and subjective ratings of LBD. The LRoM was higher and trunk muscle (ES) activity was lower for participants when wearing tight pants, as compared to fit pants. Discomfort ratings were significantly higher for tight pants than fit. These results provide guidance for recommendations on work clothing fit in specific types of MMH activities in order to reduce the potential of low-back pain among younger workers in industrial companies.