The Effects of Active Stretching Exercise on Passive Stiffness of Rectus Femoris Muscle and Low Back Pain in Patients with Lumbar Extension Rotation Syndrome

The Effects of Active Stretching Exercise on Passive Stiffness of Rectus Femoris Muscle and Low Back Pain in Patients with Lumbar Extension Rotation Syndrome

Background A previous literature suggested that increased passive stiffness of rectus femoris muscle (RF) can cause compensatory lumbopelvic motion in sagittal plane or transverse plane during active knee flexion in patients with lumbar extension rotation syndrome (L-ext & rot syn), resulting low back pain. Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of active stretching exercise of RF during 6-week on passive muscle stiffness of RF and low back pain in patients with L-ext & rot syn. Study design Pre/post-test design. Methods Twenty patients with L-ext & rot syn were recruited for this study. Passive RF stiffness was measured in pre- and post-stretching period using specially designed motorized pulling machine. Subjective stretch sensation and intensity of low back pain were measured using numeric rating scale. The subjects performed the active RF stretching exercise during 6-week. The significance of the difference between pre- and post-stretching exercises was assessed using repeated one-way analysis of variance. Results Passive RF stiffness and stretch sensation after RF stretching exercise was significantly reduced in subjects with L-ext & rot syn. However, pain intensity of low back during daily activity showed no significant difference between before and after stretching exercise. Conclusions Active RF stretching exercise during 6-week can decrease RF stiffness, but failed to decrease pain intensity of low back during daily activity in patients with L-ext & rot syn.