The Effects of Isokinetic Strengthening of Trunk Muscles on Balance in Hemiplegic Patients

OBJECTIVE: To identify the effects of isokinetic strengthening of trunk muscles on balance in hemiplegic patients after stroke. METHOD: All participants were ambulatory hemiplegic patients, injured at least 6 months prior to study. The patients (n=16) were randomly divided into two groups. The control group received neurodevelopmental treatments and gait training 3 times a week. In addition to the same treatments provided for the control group, the experimental group received trunk isokinetic strengthening exercises using isokinetic dynamometer 3 times a week. Trunk muscle peak torque and balance in the experimental group were compared with those in control group at baseline and 4 weeks after treatments. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, lesion of hemiplegia, time after stroke onset, trunk muscle strength and Berg balance score before treatments between two groups. In the experimental group, peak torques of trunk extensor increased significantly at 60degrees/sec and 90degrees/sec at 4 weeks (p<0.05), but there were no significant improvements in peak torques of trunk flexor at all degree and extensor peak torques at 120degrees/sec. Both the extensor and flexors showed no significant changes in the control groups. In the experimental group, a mean percent change in peak torque involving the trunk extensor was significantly increased at 60degrees/sec. In the experimental group, Berg balance scores, 10 m gait velocity, sit to stand and gait 3 m and return, and 10 seconds stair up and down were improved (p<0.05). No significant improvements were noted in the control group. CONCLUSION: Isokinetic strengthening of trunk muscles can improve balance in hemiplegic patients.

Physical characteristics of university wrestlers with low back pain / 体力科学

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between low back pain (LBP) any physical characteristics in university wrestlers. We especially focused on radiological abnormalitie (RA) in their lumbar regions.<BR>Physical characteristics and isokinetic trunk muscle strength of the 55 male university wrestlers were measured. MRI was used to evaluate the cross-sectional areas of trunk muscles between lumbar spine 3 and 4 (L3/4) . Evaluations of LBP were based on the diagnose of orthopedic surgeons and the questionnaire test. According to this evaluation, we assigned all wrestlers into two groups as the LOP group and the no LOP group. Furthermore, four groups were defined by having RA based on X-ray and MRI diagnose.<BR>We obtained the following results. In comparison between the LOP group and the no LOP group, the trunk muscle extension flexion strength ratio of the LOP was significantly lower than that of the no LOP group. In addition, the LOP without RA group showed significant low strength of their trunk extensors in comparison with the no LOP without RA group.<BR>We considered that the relative low strength of trunk extensors should have some effect on LBP in university wrestlers.

BIOMECHANICAL STUDY OF TRUNK MUSCLE STRENGTH AND INTERRELATED STUDY IN PATIENTS WITH LOW BACK PAIN CAUSED BY MILITARY TRAINING / 解放军医学杂志

To ascertain the change of trunk muscle strength and lumbar curvature and cross sectional area of M. sacrospinalis in low back pain caused by military training, the indexes of trunk muscle strength (PT/BW, TAE, F/E) were measured in patients with low back pain and healthy subjects with CYBEX 6000 isokinetic testing system. The lumbar curvature was measured in lumbar X ray films on the lateral projection in standing position, and the cross sectional area of sacrospinalis was measured by ultrasonography. All of the indexes were compared between the two groups.The results showed PT/BW of flexors was not significantly different between the patients and healthy subjects, TAE of flexors in patients was lower than that of healthy subjects ( P

The Effect of Chronic Low Back Pain on Bone Mineral Density and Trunk Muscle Strength in Women

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate (1) the effect of chronic low back pain on bone mineral density, and (2) the effect of chronic low back pain on trunk muscle strength in women. METHOD: Subjects were 118 women patients (ages of 28~65 years) suffering from chronic low back pain more than three months and control groups were 218 healthy women (age of 26~72 years). We measured bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine and proximal femur using Dual X-ray absorptiometry and trunk muscle strength using Cybex 660 dynamometer. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups in lumbar spine BMD, in proximal femur BMD, or in trunk flexor muscle strength. However, trunk extensor muscle strength was reduced significantly in patient group. Trunk extensor muscle peak torque was 64.69+/-18.48 Nm in the patient group and 73.84+/-22.50 Nm in the control group in 30 degrees/sec, and 58.65+/-18.59 Nm in the patient group and 65.68+/-20.28 Nm in the control group in 60 degrees/sec. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that chronic low back pain does not affect the BMD. However, it causes trunk extensor muscle weakness; therefore, trunk extension exercise will be help to the patients with chronic low back pain.

Trunk Muscle Strength and Bone Mineral Density in Women

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate a correlation between the muscle strength of trunk and bone mineral density (BMD) in women. METHOD: A total of 218 healthy women participated in the study. Their age ranged from 26 to 72 years. Dual X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure the BMD of lumbar spine and the trunk muscle strength was assessed by a Cybex NORMTM system. Under the standard criteria of World Health Organization for the dual X-ray absorptiometry analysis, we divided spine T-score into three groups(group 1: osteoporosis, group 2: osteopenia, and group 3: normal). RESULTS: The data revealed a siginificant correlation (r= 0.455, p=0.0001) between the age and BMD of lumbar spine. Trunk extensor muscle strength revealed 56.27+/-18.08 Nm (mean+/-SD) in osteoporosis group, 72.84+/-21.69 Nm in osteopenic group, and 77.90+/-22.28 Nm in normal group. Trunk flexor muscle strength was 82.73+/-23.30 Nm in osteoporosis group, 86.00+/-19.77 Nm in osteopenic group, and 98.91+/-18.29 Nm in normal group. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that the trunk extensor muscle was weaker than the flexor muscle in osteoporotic group. As the bone mineral density reduced, the strength of both trunk extensor and flexor decreased. However the weakness of trunk flexor occurred at the earlier stage of osteoporosis than the weakness of trunk extensor.

The change in trunk muscle performance in recruits with low back pain caused by military training and its prevention / 解放军医学杂志

To elucidate the change in trunk muscle performance in patients with low back pain caused by military training. The indices of trunk muscle strength (PT/BW, TAE, F/E, ER), the cross-sectional area of sacrospinalis, the amplitude and the duration of EMG, and the lumbar curvature were measured in recruits with low back pain after military training (n=40)and healthy subjects(n=40).All of the indices were compared between two groups. It was found that except PT/BW and ER of flexors and cross-sectional area of sacrospinalis, there were significant differences between other indices of the patients compared with healthy subjects(P