• Jack Crosbie, Ruben de Faria Negrão Filho, Dafne Port Nascimento, and Paulo Ferreira.
• Clinical & Rehabilitation Sciences Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. jack.crosbie@sydney.edu.au
• Spine. 2013 Mar 1;38(5):E286-92.

Study DesignObservational cohort study.ObjectiveTo investigate spinal coordination during preferred and fast speed walking in pain-free subjects with and without a history of recurrent low back pain (LBP).Summary Of Background DataDynamic motion of the spine during walking is compromised in the presence of back pain (LBP), but its analysis often presents some challenges. The coexistence of significant symptoms may change gait because of pain or adaptation of the musculoskeletal structures or both. A history of LBP without the overlay of a current symptomatic episode allows a better model in which to explore the impact on spinal coordination during walking.MethodsSpinal and lower limb segmental motions were tracked using electromagnetic sensors. Analyses were conducted to explore the synchrony and spatial coordination of the segments and to compare the control and subjects with LBP.ResultsWe found no apparent differences between the groups for either overall amplitude of motion or most indicators of coordination in the lumbar region; however, there were significant postural differences in the mid-stance phase and other indicators of less phase locking in controls compared with subjects with LBP. The lower thoracic spinal segment was more affected by the history of back pain than the lumbar segment.ConclusionAlthough small, there were indicators that alterations in spinal movement and coordination in subjects with recurrent LBP were due to adaptive changes rather than the presence of pain.

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