Postural Control of the Lumbar Spine in Unstable Sitting

Abstract 

Preuss RA, Grenier SG, McGill SM. Postural control of the lumbar spine in unstable sitting.

Objective

To evaluate the neuromuscular strategy adopted during sitting balance on an unstable surface in the frontal plane.

Design

Electromyographic evaluation of trunk muscles.

Setting

University spine biomechanics laboratory.

Participants

Seventy asymptomatic men (mean age, 34.5y).

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

“Balancers” and “nonbalancers” were identified by principal component analysis of their lumbar spine side flexion angle during sitting balance. Average electromyographic levels were used as a measure of muscle activation. Pearson correlations were used to identify coactivation versus asymmetrical muscle activation of opposite muscle groups.

Results

External oblique, internal oblique, and thoracic erector spinae (TES) were most active, and most likely to be used asymmetrically, with other muscles showing low levels of coactivation. Between groups, the average electromyographic levels in the balancers was lower than in the nonbalancers (P<.05), with further differences in the symmetry of external oblique, internal oblique, and TES activation between groups.

Conclusions

Sitting balance in the frontal plane appears to involve a combined feedforward-feedback strategy of muscle activation. Successful balance was characterized by low levels of muscle coactivity, along with higher levels of asymmetric activation in the global trunk muscles, specifically external oblique, internal oblique, and TES.

Key Words:  Electromyography , Equilibrium , Lumbosacral region , Motor activity , Rehabilitation