Abstract
Background: The gluteal-to- Tensor Fascia Latae muscle activation index is considered a valuable finding in the rehabilitation of disease such as low back pain. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of lumbo- pelvic general and selected exercises on pain, movement control and gluteal and TFL muscles activation in patients with lumbar movement control impairment.
Methods: 39 subjects with nonspecific chronic low back pain and lumbar movement control impairment were recruited. Before and after the implementation of two different types of general and selected training protocols for lumbo- pelvic area, the pain, movement control and muscle activity measurement were done by using visual analogue scale, Lumajoki tests and surface electromyography respectively.
Results: Mean Age of study was with mean age of 33.4±6.13 years old. The results showed that both groups of training increases the activity of the gluteal muscles but only the selected training led to pain decreases and movement control improvement. Selected training group consists of side step, clam with elastic resistance around thighs (CLAM), unilateral bridge (uni BRG), hip extension in quadruped on elbows with knee extending (QKE) and hip extension in quadruped on elbows with knee flexed (QKF) exercises increases more in the gluteal-to-Tensor index index that this is due to increased Gluteal muscles activity and decreased Tensor Fascia Latae activity after performing these exercises that this is a very important clinical finding.
Conclusion: It is recommended that if the goal of rehabilitation is to preferentially activation and strengthening the gluteal muscles while minimizing Tensor Fascia Latae activation, then the CLAM, SIDE STEP, UniBRG, QKE, and QKF exercises appear to be most appropriate.