Occupational Exposure
Conditions
Brief summary
An experimental study, which will aim to investigate the acute effects of unloading maneuvers during an intermittent spinal flexion protocol on changes in trunk mechanical and neuromuscular properties.
Detailed description
Our experimental study will include 30 participants. All participants will complete a 60-min intermittent spinal flexion protocol. During rest periods within the protocol, the participants from the intervention group will perform unloading maneuvers for the lumbar spine. Measurements of trunk mechanical and neuromuscular properties. will be performed prior to and following the 60-min protocol.
Interventions
OTHERUnloading maneuvers
Participants will perform unloading maneuvers four times with 15 min of spinal flexion protocol in between. The intervention will include self traction on a box (5 s) and sustained standing trunk extension (8 s). Both maneuvers will be repeated twice at each timepoint.
Sponsors
University of Primorska
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Cross-sectional study with intervention
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
30 Years to 55 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Occupational workers with a predominantly non static job (e.g. combination of sitting and standing)
Exclusion criteria
* History of chronic low back pain * Episode of acute low back pain * Hip injury in the past six months * Previous spine, pelvis or hip surgery * Hypermobility, diagnosed with the Beighton score * High intensity resistance training (\> 75 % of 1 repetition maximum) more than two times a week * Sporting or recreational activities, that include repetitive spinal flexion or maintenance of a flexed posture (for example cycling or rowing).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in muscle stiffness | 90 minutes | Muscle stiffness will be measured using ultrasound-based shear wave elastography during prone lying and forward stooping. Erector spinae and multifidus muscle stiffness will be expressed as the shear modulus value in kilopascals. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in range of motion | 90 minutes | Trunk flexion range of motion will be evaluated using Spinal Mouse in maximal trunk flexion while standing. |
| Change in seated spinal height | 90 minutes | Seated spinal height will be measured on a custom-developed stadiometer, with the participants in a seated position. |
| Change in lumbar lordosis angle | 90 minutes | The lumbar lordosis angle will be evaluated using Spinal Mouse during upright standing. |
| Change in trunk extension maximal strength | 90 minutes | Isometric trunk extension peak torque will be assessed on a trunk dynamometer. |
Countries
Slovenia
Contacts
Primary ContactMatej Voglar, PhD
Backup ContactRok Vatovec, PhD
Outcome results
None listed