european college of sport science

Thursday, June 25th, 2009
useful to enhance proprioceptive acuity. More studies are necessary to understand the role of cutaneous receptors in the joint position
sense and beyond in the movement.
Khabie V, Schwartz MC, Rokito AS, Gallagher MA, Cuomo F, Zuckerman JD. The effects of intraarticular anaesthesia and elastic bandage
on elbow proprioception. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 1998; 7(5):501-4.
THE INFLUENCE OF TRANSVERSUS ABDOMINIS CONTRACTION ON POSTURAL SWAY IN PERSONS WITH AND WITH-
OUT LOW BACK PAIN.
HENRIKSEN, A., KROSSHAUG, T., BØ, K.
NORWEGIAN SCHOOL OF SPORTS SCIENCES
Introduction: Spinal instability is identified as a possible cause of low back pain (LBP). The transversus abdominis (TrA) has been focused
on as an important “stabilizer” of the spine, and the recruitment of TrA is shown to be delayed in subjects with LBP (1). However, based on
recent biomechanical studies it has been argued that TrA alone cannot have such a major role as a spine stabilizer (2). Other studies on
LBP-patients have shown increased postural sway compared to non-LBP patients, and it has been hypothesised that the increase in
postural sway may contribute to the chronification of LBP (3). The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether a voluntary contraction
(VC) of TrA influence on the degree of postural sway in standing position in persons with and without low back pain.
Methods: Twenty-five subjects were included in this experimental cross-sectional study, 12 LBP patients and 13 healthy controls. Mean
age in the two groups were 26.2 (SD 6.2) and 27.8 (SD 8.7) years respectively. Postural sway was measured as center of pressure (COP)excursion
while standing on foam surface. Measurements for 20 seconds were done on a force platform: 1)eyes open, 2)eyes closed,
3)eyes open and VC of the TrA and 4)eyes closed and VC of the TrA. The VC of the TrA was taught and verified using real time ultrasound
(US). Paired samples t-test and independent samples t-test were used for the statistical analysis, and a p-value of