Feasibility of a novel back support device to improve spine stability and muscular activity during trunk flexion: A prospective cross-sectional study with healthy controls and low back pain subjects - preliminary

Abstract

Background

Low back pain is a prevalent global condition often challenging to address due to the absence of a definitive diagnosis in over 80 % of cases. Manual lifting, common in many work environments, contributes to low back pain due to lumbar spine stresses, and existing assistive technologies like abdominal belts and exoskeletons have limitations in managing low back pain effectively. This paper presents a novel back support device designed to generate abdominal compression during flexion activities, potentially enhancing lumbar stability through increased intra-abdominal pressure.

Methods

The study involved 14 participants with chronic non-specific low back pain and 18 gender-matched healthy controls doing controlled movement tests with and without the support device.

Findings

Results suggest that the back support device increased intra-abdominal pressure in both groups during various functional tasks, more notably in active flexion and lifting tasks (up to +43 %). The device also contributed to decreasing lumbar range of motion during guided flexion (−18 to −37 %, except at the lumbosacral junction in the low back pain group), emphasizing its potential impact in limiting excessive spinal movement. Muscle activity assessments revealed decreased activation during active flexion and lifting movements while wearing the device, suggesting the possibility to assist trunk stabilization without the corresponding antagonistic muscle activation and associated compressive load on the spine.

Interpretation

These effects could help workers to maintain their activities in the workplace and help workers suffering from low back pain to gradually reintegrate work or physical activities, contributing to better overall management of back health.