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Precision of estimates of local stability of repetitive trunk movements

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Abstract

Purpose

Local dynamic stability of trunk movements quantified by means of the maximum Lyapunov exponent (λmax) can provide information on trunk motor control and might offer a measure of trunk control in low-back pain patients. It is unknown how many repetitions are necessary to obtain sufficiently precise estimates of λmax and whether fatigue effects on λmax can be avoided while increasing the number of repetitions.

Method

Ten healthy subjects performed 100 repetitions of trunk movements in flexion, of trunk rotation and of a task combining these movement directions. λmax was calculated from thorax, pelvis and trunk (thorax relative to pelvis) kinematics. Data series were analyzed using a bootstrap procedure; ICC and coefficient of variation were used to quantify precision as a function of the number of cycles analyzed. ANOVA was used to compare movement tasks and to test for effects of time.

Results

Trunk local stability reached acceptable precision level after 30 repetitions. λmax was higher (indicating lower stability) in flexion, compared to rotation and combined tasks. There was no time effect (fatigue). λmax of trunk movement was lower and less variable than that of thorax and pelvis movements.

Conclusions

The data provided allow for an informed choice of the number of repetitions in assessing local dynamic stability of trunk movements, weighting the gain in precision against the increase in measurement effort. Within the 100 repetitions tested, fatigue did not affect results. We suggest that increased stability during asymmetric movement may be explained by higher co-activation of trunk muscles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Movement to Health Laboratory, Euromov, Montpellier 1 University, 700 Av Pic Saint Loup, 34090, Montpellier, France

    Arnaud Dupeyron

  2. Département de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nîmes, Place du Pr R. Debré, Nîmes cedex 09, France

    Arnaud Dupeyron

  3. MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Sietse M. Rispens & Jaap H. van Dieën

  4. Département de biostatistiques, épidémiologie, santé publique et information médicale (BESPIM), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nîmes, Place du Pr R. Debré, Nîmes cedex 09, France

    Christophe Demattei

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  1. Arnaud Dupeyron
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  2. Sietse M. Rispens
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  3. Christophe Demattei
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  4. Jaap H. van Dieën
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Correspondence to Arnaud Dupeyron.

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Dupeyron, A., Rispens, S.M., Demattei, C. et al. Precision of estimates of local stability of repetitive trunk movements. Eur Spine J 22, 2678–2685 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-2797-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-2797-2

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