Movement of the upper body and muscle activity patterns following a rapidly applied load: the influence of pre-load alterations

Sudden loading of the spine is not only considered a risk factor for the development of low-back pain but also enables an evaluation of the stability of the spine when conducted under laboratory conditions. In the present study the upper spine was pulled in the anterior direction and the stiffness as well as activity in the erector spinae muscle was measured with different pre-tension in the erector spinae. The results showed that increased activity in the erector spinae prior to loading led to increased stiffness (stiffness coefficients from 297 Nm rad⁻¹ to 438 Nm rad⁻¹) and a decrease in the extra neural signal input to the muscles to maintain the stability. It is therefore clear that increased tension in the erector spinae muscle will create a larger stability of the spine to anterior perturbations. However, contracting the muscles around the spine increases the load on the spinal structures. In 34% of the experiments a silent period in the electromyographic signal was present after loading in the period when the torso was moving in the anterior direction. This phenomenon is discussed.