Inspiratory muscle training affects proprioceptive use and low back pain

Purpose. We have shown that individuals with recurrent non-specific low back pain (LBP) and healthy individuals breathing against an inspiratory load decrease their reliance on back proprioceptive signals in upright standing. Since individuals with LBP show a greater susceptibility to diaphragm fatigue, it is reasonable to hypothesize that LBP, diaphragm dysfunction and proprioceptive use may be interrelated. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether inspiratory muscle training (IMT) affects proprioceptive use during postural control in individuals with LBP. Methods. Twenty-eight individuals with LBP were assigned randomly into a high-intensity IMT group (high-IMT) and low-intensity IMT group (low-IMT). The use of proprioception in upright standing was evaluated by measuring center of pressure displacement during local muscle vibration (ankle, back, ankle-back). Secondary outcomes were inspiratory muscle strength, severity of LBP, and disability. Results. After high-IMT, individuals showed smaller responses to ankle muscle vibration, larger responses to back muscle vibration, higher inspiratory muscle strength, and reduced LBP severity (p< 0.05). These changes were not seen after low-IMT (p> 0.05). No changes in disability were observed in either group (p> 0.05). Conclusion. After eight weeks of high-IMT, individuals with LBP showed an increased reliance on back proprioceptive signals during postural control, and improved inspiratory muscle strength and severity of LBP, not seen after low-IMT. Hence, IMT may facilitate the proprioceptive involvement of the trunk in postural control in individuals with LBP, and thus might be a useful rehabilitation tool for these patients.

Jaar van publicatie:2015

BOF-keylabel:ja

IOF-keylabel:ja

BOF-publication weight:10

CSS-citation score:2

Auteurs:International

Authors from:Higher Education

Toegankelijkheid:Closed