Gluteal muscle recruitment during level, incline and stair ambulation in healthy subjects and chronic low back pain patients
H. Himmelreich, L. Vogt, W. Banzer
The aim of this study was to compare electrical patterns of gluteus maximus activity during walking (at 0 and 10 degrees elevation) and a stair climb task in healthy men and in men with chronic lower back pain (CLBP).
Electrical activity of the glut max of twelve male CLBP patients and twenty control subjects was compared during level walking , uphill walking and stair climbing. EMG was tested on either side of the lower back, chosen at random.
Compared to level walking, incline walking and stair ascent induced a significant increase of about 25% respectively 50% of gluteus maximus activity in the healthy cohort. However, CLBP patients showed an average increase of only 35% in incline walking and stair climbing along with a longer stance phase activity during stair ascent.
The results show that low back pain is associated with changes in the level and duration of glut max activity in different walking patterns. These changes point towards a compensatory recruitment pattern to achieve a degree of lumbo-pelvic stabilisation.
Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, volume 21, number 3 / 2008
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