Low back pain (or lumbago) is a common ailment, but what is the best way to remedy the situation? An exercise machine designed specifically for back muscles could be the solution according to a new study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the journal of the American College of Sports Medicine.
"If you want to bring about physiological change to help the development and endurance of back muscles, you must focus your training on those specific muscles and not other muscular groups such as hip extensors," said Christian Larivière, a professor at the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail, who conducted the study with Université de Montréal researchers Bertrand Arsenault, Rubens A. Da Silva, Sylvie Nadeau, André Plamondon, and Roger Vadeboncoeur.
The investigation requested that subjects ages 18 to 65—some healthy and others with low back pain—complete various exercises. Electromyography (EMG) sensors were used to measure the level of activity and fatigue in various muscles during the routine. "Thanks to this technique, we can target tired muscles which aren’t yet showing a decrease in strength," Larivière said in a statement from the university.
Test subjects also used a machine designed for back exercises in a semi-sitting position. Study results showed that using this machine was beneficial. Using a cushion to stabilize the pelvis brought about a better response from the back muscles, and extending the legs strengthened muscles. "Therefore, we can decrease the use of hip muscles and in turn increase the use of the back muscles," said Larivière.
Such exercises can only help reduce pain and disabilities caused by back pain, said Larivière. He recommends those who suffer severe pain begin with stretches on the ground with low to medium effort. "Progressively, the individual will gain confidence and can use machines that require superior strength," he said.
The study, published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, is titled Specificity of a Back Muscle Machine in Healthy and Low Back Pain Subjects.
[Source: [removed]University of Montreal[/removed]]
