AN INVESTIGATION OF ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC ACTIVITY DIFFERENCES IN PARTICIPANTS RECOVERED FROM A LOW BACK INJURY

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this analysis was to investigate for differences in EMG activity between a recovered LBI military and non-military population during a standardized functional task. Methods: A secondary analysis was preformed on EMG data collected from both study groups during a transfer task. Results: Significant differences in EMG activation were not detected based upon group (military vs. non-military) or re-injury status. Differences in EMG activity were detected based upon PIT status including a qualitative clustering of variable 2 ratio scores around 50% for those who tested positive during the PIT. Conclusions: The recovered LBI groups elicited similar neuromuscular responses during hand transition as indicated by the lack of differences in EMG activity. Differences in variable ratio scores based upon PIT status may represent a common neuromuscular strategy to the flexion moment during hand transition in those participants who tested positive during the PIT.