Abstract

Specific diagnosis of low back pain is difficult, and there are no tools available for long-term follow-up of rehabilitation from low back pain.

During a pilot study, the interrelationship between kinetics, dynamometry, and the degree of activity of groups of muscles during trunk extension or flexion was measured in an experimental group comprised of individuals suffering from pain attributable to a recent back injury.

Temporal elements of muscle activation models during rapid trunk extension and flexion best discriminated between healthy subjects and patients. This type of analysis may prove useful for diagnostic purposes.