Affiliations: [a] Department of Rehabilitation, Józef Piƚsudski University of Physical Education, Warsaw, Poland | [b] Department of Physiotherapy, Józef Rusiecki University College, Olsztyn, Poland | [c] Academy of Physical Education, Kraków, Poland
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Dariusz Czaprowski, Department of Rehabilitation, Józef Piƚsudski University of Physical Education, Marymoncka 34, 00-968 Warsaw, Poland. Tel./Fax: +22 834 04 31, ext. 503; E-mail:dariusz.czaprowski@interia.pl
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The surface electromyography (sEMG), by evaluating the
paraspinal muscle activity, may be used for diagnosis and evaluation of
rehabilitation effectiveness patients with low back pain. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to determine the
intra- and inter-session reliability
of the measurement of the activity of the lumbar erector spinae (LES) activity (extension-flexion ratio). METHODS: The study included 21 asymptomatic subjects, aged 14 to 27
years, mean 23.7 ± 2.9. The LES muscle activity was assessed with using
of the sEMG during forward trunk flexion and extension by two examiners.
Based on the quotient of the LES muscle activity obtained during four
concentric and eccentric tasks the extension-flexion ratio was calculated. RESULTS: The measurements displayed excellent or fair-to-good
reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient ranged from 0.90 to 0.68).
The typical error and coefficient of variations, ranged from 0.34 to 0.58,
and from 13.7 to 21.9, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of the extension-flexion ratio
performed with the use of sEMG shows high level of intra- and inter-session
reliability, suggesting that this parameter is a reliable tool in evaluation
of the lumbar paraspinal muscles activity. However, the level of typical
error should be taken into account.
Keywords: Reliability, typical error, surface electromyography, extension-flexion ratio
