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Lumbopelvic motion during seated hip flexion in subjects with low-back pain accompanying limited hip flexion

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Abstract

Purpose

Limited hip flexion may lead to a poor lumbopelvic motion during seated active hip flexion in people with low-back pain (LBP). The purpose of this study was to compare lumbopelvic motion during seated hip flexion between subjects with and without LBP accompanying limited hip flexion.

Methods

Fifteen patients with LBP accompanying limited hip flexion and 16 healthy subjects were recruited. The subjects performed seated hip flexion with the dominant leg three times. A three-dimensional motion-analysis system was used to measure lumbopelvic motion during seated hip flexion.

Results

During seated active hip flexion, the angle of hip flexion was significantly lower in patients with LBP accompanying limited hip flexion (17.4 ± 4.4 in the LBP group, 20.8 ± 2.6 in the healthy group; t = 2.63, p = 0.014). The angle of the lumbar flexion (4.8 ± 2.2 in the LBP group, 2.6 ± 2.0 in the healthy group; t = −2.96, p = 0.006) and posterior pelvic tilting (5.0 ± 2.6 in the LBP group, 2.9 ± 2.0 in the healthy group; t = 2.48 p = 0.019), however, were significantly greater in patients with this condition.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that limited hip flexion in LBP can contribute to excessive lumbar flexion and posterior pelvic tilting during hip flexion in the sitting position. Further studies are required to confirm whether improving the hip flexion range of motion can reduce excessive lumbar flexion in patients with LBP accompanying limited hip flexion.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the subjects for participating in the study and for their helpful assistance in the preparation of this paper.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea

    Si-hyun Kim, Chung-hwi Yi, Heon-seock Cynn & Kyue-nam Park

  2. Laboratory of Kinetic Ergocise based on Movement Analysis, Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Maeji-ri, Heungeop-Myeon, Wonju, Kangwon-Do, Wonju, 220-710, South Korea

    Oh-yun Kwon

  3. Division of Health Science, Department of Physical Therapy, Baekseok University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea

    Sung-min Ha

Authors
  1. Si-hyun Kim
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  2. Oh-yun Kwon
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  3. Chung-hwi Yi
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  4. Heon-seock Cynn
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  5. Sung-min Ha
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  6. Kyue-nam Park
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Oh-yun Kwon.

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Study information

The protocol for this study was approved by the Yonsei University Wonju Campus Human Studies Committee.

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Kim, Sh., Kwon, Oy., Yi, Ch. et al. Lumbopelvic motion during seated hip flexion in subjects with low-back pain accompanying limited hip flexion. Eur Spine J 23, 142–148 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-2973-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-2973-4

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