Individuals with chronic low back pain show impaired adaptations of lumbar extensor muscle reflex amplitude during unexpected perturbations

Ducas, J., Hamel, A., Vadez, G., Descarreaux, M. et Abboud, J. (2025). Individuals with chronic low back pain show impaired adaptations of lumbar extensor muscle reflex amplitude during unexpected perturbations. European Journal of Applied Physiology . ISSN 1439-6319 1439-6327 DOI 10.1007/s00421-025-05797-z

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Résumé

Abstract
Purpose
This study investigated the adaptability of trunk muscle responses to a series of unexpected external perturbations in patients with chronic low back pain (LBP).

Methods
Thirty-seven adult participants, including 19 without LBP (control group) and 18 with chronic LBP, were submitted to 15 repetitions of trunk perturbations applied in a posterior-to-anterior direction, inducing trunk flexion. High-density surface electromyography (HDsEMG) was used to analyze lumbar muscle reflex amplitude. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA (2 × 2) was conducted to compare group differences and the effect of trial repetition over time (first five trials vs. last five trials of perturbations).

Results
Significant interaction effects were found on both sides (Left: p = 0.038; Right: p = 0.007). Post hoc comparisons revealed a decrease in response amplitude only in the control group between the first and last five perturbations, with reductions of 5.0% on the left side (p = 0.026, Bonferroni corrected) and 5.7% on the right side (p = 0.030, Bonferroni corrected). In contrast, individuals with chronic LBP showed no significant adaptation through repetition in the reflex response amplitude of the lumbar extensor muscles (post hoc both sides: p > 0.05).

Conclusion
Individuals with chronic LBP fail to adapt reflex amplitudes to repeated perturbations, possibly due to impaired proprioception, reduced motor variability and neuroplastic changes observed in individuals with chronic LBP. These changes might limit their ability to optimize responses to repeated perturbations, potentially compromising spinal stability and increasing functional cost.

Type de document:	Article
Mots-clés libres:	Lumbar muscles Trunk Perturbations Chronic low back pain Adaptations High-density surface electromyography
Date de dépôt:	22 mai 2025 18:48
Dernière modification:	22 mai 2025 18:48
Version du document déposé:	Post-print (version corrigée et acceptée)
URI:	https://depot-e.uqtr.ca/id/eprint/11978

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