Lumbar spine movement profiles uniquely characterize postural variation during simulated prolonged driving

Abstract Prolonged driving has been linked to the development of low back pain. Methods to examine time varying postural changes of the lumbar spine during driving have been scarcely investigated. Distinguishing postural variation as movement patterns such as lumbar shifts and fidgets may provide novel insight, which may otherwise be lost with analyses that parameterize variation as a single value. This investigation aimed to identify if lumbar spine shifts or fidgets typically occur in automotive sitting and if differences occur across sex or time. An additional objective was to investigate the extent these movement patterns can capture variation across time. Forty participants (18 F, 22 M) performed a one hour driving simulation. Number, duration and amplitude of shifts and fidgets as well as the mean and standard deviation (SD) of lumbar angle were calculated. Reported discomfort and pain were also recorded. Shifts and fidgets occurred in the absence of discomfort or pain and did not vary on average across time or sex (p > 0.05). Movement patterns characterized variation with a higher resolution compared to lumbar angle SD. Identifying lumbar shifts and fidgets provide an increased potential to understand individual time varying postural responses during driving, including the development of low back discomfort or pain.