Back Pain
Conditions
Keywords
vibration, proprioception
Brief summary
The primary objective of this study is to compare the lumbar proprioception of patients with chronic back pain to that of healthy volunteers during low- and high-frequency muscle vibration. The order of measures (low frequency of vibration, high frequency vibration and no vibration) is randomized in a cross-over design. Patients and volunteers are matched by age and body mass index.
Detailed description
The secondary objectives of this study are: A-Measure the effect of low- and high-frequency vibrations on lumbar repositioning in patients with chronic lower back pain. B-Measure the effect of low- and high-frequency vibrations on lumbar repositioning in healthy volunteers. Our working hypothesis is that low frequency vibrations induce an illusion of shortening, and high frequency vibrations induce an illusion of elongation. The variability of the error should not increase.
Interventions
OTHERCalibration
Subjects will be seated on a table, feet dangling, blindfolded, arms crossed over the chest and held in place by bandages to minimize the visual and proprioceptive inputs that may contribute to the realization of the task. The investigator uses an electronic goniometer to measure the maximal extension and flexion during a pelvic pivot. These measures will be used to determine a target position midway along the pelvic movement range.
OTHERPractice
Propioception test: The movement required is flexion - extension of the lumbar spine without moving the shoulders; it is a pelvic rocking motion. The patients will be helped to the target position by the investigator. After keeping the target position for 5 seconds, they will be asked to completely pivot the pelvis to a forward position, then return to the target position. Each subject will have three (non-measured) tries at the proprioception test without vibration, then three tries with low frequency vibration (20 Hertz), and then three tries with high frequency vibration (60 Hertz). Between each series of tries, a 2-minute rest period with walking is required.
OTHERMeasures - no vibration
The movements required are performed without vibration. The movement required is flexion - extension of the lumbar spine without moving the shoulders; it is a pelvic rocking motion. The patients will be helped to the target position by the investigator. After keeping the target position for 5 seconds, they will be asked to completely pivot the pelvis to a forward position, then return to the target position. This test is repeated five times. The investigator measures the lumbar angle using an electronic goniometer twice during each of the five tests: once after the patient is helped to the target angle, and once after the patient tries to remember the target angle by his/herself.
OTHERMeasures - low vibration
The movements required are performed with low frequency vibration (20 Hertz on following device: VIBRALGIC 5; manufacturer = Electronique Conseil). The movement required is flexion - extension of the lumbar spine without moving the shoulders; it is a pelvic rocking motion. The patients will be helped to the target position by the investigator. After keeping the target position for 5 seconds, they will be asked to completely pivot the pelvis to a forward position, then return to the target position. This test is repeated five times. The investigator measures the lumbar angle using an electronic goniometer twice during each of the five tests: once after the patient is helped to the target angle, and once after the patient tries to remember the target angle by his/herself.
OTHERMeasures - high vibration
The movements required are performed with low frequency vibration (20 Hertz on following device: VIBRALGIC 5; manufacturer = Electronique Conseil). The movement required is flexion - extension of the lumbar spine without moving the shoulders; it is a pelvic rocking motion. The patients will be helped to the target position by the investigator. After keeping the target position for 5 seconds, they will be asked to completely pivot the pelvis to a forward position, then return to the target position. This test is repeated five times. The investigator measures the lumbar angle using an electronic goniometer twice during each of the five tests: once after the patient is helped to the target angle, and once after the patient tries to remember the target angle by his/herself.
Sponsors
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nīmes
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
for patients: * The patient must have given his/her informed and signed consent * The patient must be insured or beneficiary of a health insurance plan * The patient has had chronic low back pain (which did NOT originate in a postoperative setting) for at least 6 months Inclusion Criteria for healthy volunteers: * The subject must have given his/her informed and signed consent * The subject must be insured or beneficiary of a health insurance plan
Exclusion criteria
for patients: * The patient is under judicial protection, or any kind of guardianship * The patient refuses to sign the consent * It is impossible to correctly inform the patient * The patient is pregnant, parturient, or breastfeeding * The patient has a history of spinal surgery * The patient has a history of preexisting postural disorder preceding low back pain * The patient has been treated in the last month (e.g. back pain injections) * The patient has a balance disorder, blindness, inability to perform the experimental protocol
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Measurement erreur | Baseline (day O) | Measures are made with an electronic goniometer. Measurement erreur = (Lumbar angle in the target position) - (lumbar angle in patient-perceived target position) |
Countries
France
Outcome results
None listed