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- Issue 93
- The core of the issue: Plank…
The core of the issue: Plank performance and pain in the lower back
Key Points
- Effective spinal segmental stability is linked with coordinated recruitment of the hip muscles, abdominals, and spinal extensor groups.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Low back pain (LBP) remains the global leading disabling condition despite decades of research and treatment interventions. Recurrence of LBP one year after a previous episode ranges from 24% to 80% (1). There is no clear prediction of who will have a recurrence. Core control and coordination has been a staple of LBP treatment for decades. The authors of this study propose that identifying specific functional impairments of the core musculature may help development of better targeted and meaningful interventions.
The authors point out that the forearm plank is typically used clinically to assess and measure core endurance and trunk control. They argue that it may not be relevant given the isometric component and emphasis on the anterior core musculature. This study looks at the relationship of plank duration and self-reported LBP and compares plank duration with the ability to perform a single leg bridge to see which is a better metric of muscular imbalance in individuals with LBP. Their primary hypothesis was that individuals with LBP would have significantly shorter plank times than those without LBP.
Core stabilization needs to be dynamic to allow for function in daily tasks and isometric holds have limited functional carryover but can be a good place to start when movement is too much to control.
METHODS
- This is a cross-sectional study of 117 adults recruited through convenience sampling sourced from university emails. Participants completed a plank endurance test (see Video 1), the modified Oswestry, and a self-report of the presence of LBP.