Table 1.
Demographics and clinical outcomes presented with the mean ± standard deviation.
Fig 1.
The experimental setup for measuring the kinematics and electromyography during repeated forward bending test.
Reflective markers were placed for the Plug-in Gait full body model (FHD: BHD: SHO: CLAV: clavicle; STRN: sternum; ASI: anterior superior iliac spine; C7: 7th cervical spinous process; BAK: T10: 10th thoracic spinous process; PSI: posterior superior iliac spine; ELB: elbow; WRA: wrist over radial styloid process; WRB: wrist over ulnar styloid process; FIN: head of 2nd metacarpal; THI: thigh; KNE: knee; TIB: tibia; ANK: lateral malleolus; TOE: 2nd metatarsal; HEE: posterior calcaneus; with additional marker over L1: 1st lumbar spinous process. EMG over RA: rectus abdominus; IO: internal oblique; TFL: tensor fascia latae; LES: lumbar erector spinae; MUL: lumbar multifidus; Gmax: gluteus maximus; BF: biceps femoris).
Fig 2.
Comparisons of the centre of pressure excursion (COP) during flexion and extension phase of the repeated bending task.
Fig 3.
Comparisons of the 1-cycle time (seconds) of the repeated bending task.
* indicates significant difference found between healthy and LBP (pre) with p<0.05.
Fig 4.
Comparisons of lumbar spine and hip angular velocity during the repeated bending task.
* indicates significant difference found between healthy and LBP (pre); and § indicates significant difference found between LBP (pre) and LBP (post) with p<0.05.
Fig 5.
Muscle recruitment (expressed in percentage of maximal voluntary contraction, MVC) during flexion phase of the bending task performed at self-preferred speed.
Significant difference was found between LBP (pre) and LBP (post) with p<0.05 (§). RA, rectus abdominus; IO, internal oblique; TEL, tensor fascia latae; LES, lumbar erector spinae; MUL, lumbar multifidus; Gmax, gluteal maximus; BF, biceps femoris.
Fig 6.
Muscle recruitment (expressed in percentage of maximal voluntary contraction) during extension phase of forward bending task performed at self-preferred speed.
* indicates significant difference found between healthy and LBP (pre); § indicates significant difference found between LBP (pre) and LBP (post); and † indicates significant difference found between healthy and LBP (post). RA, rectus abdominus; IO, internal oblique; TEL, tensor fascia latae; LES, lumbar erector spinae; MUL, lumbar multifidus; Gmax, gluteal maximus; BF, biceps femoris.
Fig 7.
Correlation matrix between the clinical outcomes for participants in LBP group, at a) pre- and b) post-program interval (with correlation coefficient, r and p values [* <0.05 and ** <0.01] included). SBTB (TOTAL), STarT Back Tool (Total score); SBTB (SUB), STarT Back Tool (Sub-score); TSK, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia; PSFS, Patient Specific Functional Scale; RMDQ, Roland Morris Disability Questionnaires; and PSEQ, Pain Self Efficacy Questionnaire.