CLINICAL TRUNK MUSCLE ENDURANCE TESTS IN SUBJECTS WITH AND WITHOUT LOW BACK PAIN

Study design: A cross-sectional non-experimental study.
Objectives: To collectively detect the reliability and feasibility of the five types of clinical tests that have been used to measure endurance of the trunk muscles in subjects with and without low back pain (LBP) and identify the sensitivity of each test to predict the probability of the occurrence of LBP.
Background: Testing spinal muscle endurance seems to be very important in prediction, prevention and rehabilitation of LBP. Several types of methods of static endurance testing such as: Sorensen test, prone isometric chest raise test, prone double straight-leg raise test, supine isometric chest raise test and supine double straight-leg raise test regarding their utilization have been reported in the literature. However, identification of the tests that have more dominant sensitivity on assessment of LBP has not yet been determined. Information regarding the sensitivity of each test is needed for effective prevention and appropriate treatment strategies.
Methods: A total of 200 subjects participated in this study. Subjects were categorized into four groups: asymptomatic males (N= 50, mean age= 38+12 years), asymptomatic females (N= 50, mean age= 43+11 years), males with LBP (N= 50, mean age= 39+12 years), and females with LBP (N= 50, mean age= 43+12 years). Five clinical tests were measured in each group and the relative association of each test on LBP was assessed.
Results: Among all the performed tests, the prone double straight-leg raise test had the highest association with LBP. Other tests such as the prone isometric chest raise test, Supine isometric chest raise test and Supine double straight-leg raise test had low association with LBP in comparison with the prone double straight-leg raise test.
Conclusion: It seems that the prone double straight-leg raise test has more association with LBP than other tests and could be used as a useful method for testing spinal muscle endurance, prediction of the probability of the occurrence of LBP, and prevention and rehabilitation of LBP.