This paper is only available as a PDF. To read, Please Download here.
Abstract
When lifting heavy loads, trunk muscle contraction converts the abdominal and thoracic
cavities into a nearly rigid-walled cylinder that provides increased extrinsic stability
and allows partial transfer of load away from the spine. Because twisting is a common
mechanism of low-back injuries, this study was undertaken to determine if trunk rotation
results in a decrease in the extrinsic stability of the spine. We studied the effects
of changes in trunk posture on intra-abdominal pressure generated during a maximum
effort Valsalva's maneuver (IAP max) in eight healthy volunteers. IAP max during standing
combined with trunk rotation was found to be significantly lower than IAP max during
standing straight (p < 0.05). IAP max during forward flexion combined with trunk rotation was significantly
lower than during forward flexion (p < 0.01). The results of our study indicate that trunk rotation adversely effects
the ability to perform a Valsalva's maneuver. We conclude that extrinsic stability
of the spine is at a biomechanical disadvantage when the trunk is rotated and thus
may be a contributing factor to twisting-type back injuries.
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Archives of Physical Medicine and RehabilitationAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Low-back pain in industry, an old problem revisited.J Occup Med. 1984; 26: 517-523
- The instantaneous center of torsion on the lumbar intervertebral joints.J Biomechanics. 1971; 4: 149-153
- The torsional injury of the lumbar spine.Spine. 1984; 9: 53
- The effects of torsion on the lumbar intervertebral joints: the role of torsion in the production of disc degeneration.J Bone Joint Surg. 1970; 52A: 468-496
- Role of the trunk in stability of the spine.J Boint Joint Surg. 1961; 43A: 327-351
- Variations of human intra-abdominal pressure during weight lifting in different positions.J Anat. 1956; 90: 601
- Observations on intra-abdominal pressure and patterns of abdominal intra-muscular activity in man.Acta Physiologica Scandinavica. 1992; 144: 409-418
- Die Lange and die Spannung des Muskels.Skand Arch of Physiol. 1891; 3: 295
- Die Lange and die Spannung des Muskels.Skand Arch of Physiol. 1892; 4: 399
- Die Lange and die Spannung des Muskels.Skand Arch of Physiol. 1895; 5: 150
- Die Lange and die Spannung des Muskels.Skand Arch of Physiol. 1895; 5: 175
- Electromyographic study of patterns of activity of the anterior abdominal wall muscles in man.J Anat. 1950; 84: 132-145
- Factors influencing occupational back pain in bedfordshire.Spine. 1980; 5: 254-258
- Mans posture: its evolution and disorders. Lecture IV, the adaptations of the abdomen and its viscera to the orthograde posture.Br Med J. 1923; 1: 587-590
- The role of abdominal pressure in relieving the pressure on the lumbar intervertebral discs.J Bone Joint Surg. 1957; 39B: 718-725
- Pressures in the trunk cavities when pulling pushing and lifting.Ergonomics. 1964; 7: 465-474
- Safe levels of manual forces for young males.Applied Ergonomics. 1977; 8: 141-150
- Measurement of intra-abdominal pressure in relation to weight bearing of the lumbosacral spine.J Oslo City Hosp. 1962; 12: 205-217
- Load capacity of the low back.J Oslo City Hosp. 1966; 16: 73-98
- Recent measurements of the intra-abdominal pressure.in: Kenedi RM Perspectives Engineering. University Park, Baltimore1973: 121-122
- Intraabdominal pressure and trunk muscle activity during lifting-effect of abdominal training in healthy subjects.Scand J Rehab Med. 1983; 15: 183-196
- Intadiscal pressure, intra-abdominal pressure and myoelectric back muscle activity related to posture and loading.Clin Orthop. 1977; 129: 156-164
- Quantitative studies of back loads in lifting.Spine. 1976; 1: 178-185
- In vivo measurements of intradiscal pressure: discometry, a method for the determination of pressure in the lower lumbar discs.J Bone Joint Surg. 1964; 46A: 1077-1091
- Valsalva maneuver biomechanics: effects of lumbar trunk loads of elevated intraabdominal pressures.Spine. 1986; 11: 476-479
- Intra-abdominal pressure changes during natural movements in man.Acta Physiol Scand. 1978; 103: 275-283
- Intra-abdominal pressurization for low back rehabilitation: failure to reduce spinal loads.in: Presented at RESNA's 9th Annual Conference Minneapolis, MN1986
- Intra-abdominal pressure and trunk muscle activity during lifting: II. chronic low-back patients.Scand J Rehab Med. 1985; 17: 5-13
- Intra-abdominal pressure and trunk muscle activity during lifting: III. effect of abdominal muscle training in chronic low-back patients.Scand J Rehab Med. 1985; 17: 15-24
- The effects of abdominal muscle fatigue and training on intra-abdominal pressure developed during lifting.Ergonomics. 1981; 24: 191-195
- Physiological responses to weight lifting in different planes.Ergonomics. 1980; 23: 987-993
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
June 15,
1993
Received:
February 23,
1993
Footnotes
☆This research supported by a grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Service.
Identification
Copyright
© 1994 Published by Elsevier Inc.
