Older adults present better back endurance than young adults during a dynamic trunk extension exercise

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Parreira, Rodolfo B.^{a; b} | de Oliveira, Márcio R.^{a; b} | Amorim, César F.^{a; e} | Teixeira, Denilson C.^{a; c; d} | da Silva, Rubens A.^{a; b; c; *}

Affiliations: [a] Centre for Health Science Research, Laboratory of Functional Evaluation and Human Motor Performance, Universidade Norte do Paraná, Londrina-PR, Brazil | [b] Masters Program in Rehabilitation Sciences UEL/UNOPAR, Londrina-PR, Brazil | [c] Masters Professional Program in Physical Exercise and Health Promotion, Londrina-PR, Brazil | [d] Physical Education and Sport Department, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil | [e] Masters Program in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Rubens A. da Silva, Laboratory of Functional Evaluation and Human Motor Performance, Universidade Norte do Paraná (UNOPAR), 675 Paris Av, Londrina-PR, CEP 86041-120, Brazil. Tel.: +11 55 43 3371 7700 # 7990; Fax: +11 55 43 3371 7721; E-mail: rubens@unopar.br

Abstract: Background and Objective:Poor back endurance is a predictor of low back pain. Few studies have investigated back muscle fatigue in older people. The purpose of this study was to compare the back muscle fatigue by endurance time and perceived effort between young and older adults during dynamic exercise. Method:Sixteen older and 16 young adults, all healthy, participated in this study. The subjects performed a fatiguing trunk extension-flexion exercise on a Roman chair until exhaustion. Endurance time and perceived muscle fatigue (Borg CR-10 scale) were used as fatigue criteria. Results:The older adults were significantly (T(30)=−2,073;p=0.039) more resistant to back muscle fatigue (time in mean 133 ± 52 s) than the young adults (mean 97 ± 27 s). In general, both groups had the same perception of high-level fatigue during the exercise bout (T(29)=1.73;p=0.092). Conclusion:The older adults presented better back endurance than young adults during a dynamic trunk extension exercise. These results have implications for back endurance in the primary prevention of low back pain in both young and older adults.

Keywords: Exercise, endurance, low back pain, aging, back muscles, rehabilitation

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-130430

Journal: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 153-159, 2014