Lumbar Proprioception in Lower Back Pain Patients Versus Healthy Subjects : a Comparative Study on the Effects of Low- and High-frequency Muscle Vibrations

"Subjects will be seated on a table, feet dangling, blindfolded, arms crossed over the chest and held in place by bandages to minimize the visual and proprioceptive inputs that may contribute to the realization of the task.~The investigator uses an electronic goniometer to measure the maximal extension and flexion during a pelvic pivot. These measures will be used to determine a target position midway along the pelvic movement range."

"Propioception test: The movement required is flexion - extension of the lumbar spine without moving the shoulders; it is a pelvic rocking motion. The patients will be helped to the target position by the investigator. After keeping the target position for 5 seconds, they will be asked to completely pivot the pelvis to a forward position, then return to the target position.~Each subject will have three (non-measured) tries at the proprioception test without vibration, then three tries with low frequency vibration (20 Hertz), and then three tries with high frequency vibration (60 Hertz). Between each series of tries, a 2-minute rest period with walking is required."

"The movements required are performed without vibration.~The movement required is flexion - extension of the lumbar spine without moving the shoulders; it is a pelvic rocking motion. The patients will be helped to the target position by the investigator. After keeping the target position for 5 seconds, they will be asked to completely pivot the pelvis to a forward position, then return to the target position. This test is repeated five times.~The investigator measures the lumbar angle using an electronic goniometer twice during each of the five tests: once after the patient is helped to the target angle, and once after the patient tries to remember the target angle by his/herself."

"The movements required are performed with low frequency vibration (20 Hertz on following device: VIBRALGIC 5; manufacturer = Electronique Conseil).~The movement required is flexion - extension of the lumbar spine without moving the shoulders; it is a pelvic rocking motion. The patients will be helped to the target position by the investigator. After keeping the target position for 5 seconds, they will be asked to completely pivot the pelvis to a forward position, then return to the target position. This test is repeated five times.~The investigator measures the lumbar angle using an electronic goniometer twice during each of the five tests: once after the patient is helped to the target angle, and once after the patient tries to remember the target angle by his/herself."

"The movements required are performed with low frequency vibration (20 Hertz on following device: VIBRALGIC 5; manufacturer = Electronique Conseil).~The movement required is flexion - extension of the lumbar spine without moving the shoulders; it is a pelvic rocking motion. The patients will be helped to the target position by the investigator. After keeping the target position for 5 seconds, they will be asked to completely pivot the pelvis to a forward position, then return to the target position. This test is repeated five times.~The investigator measures the lumbar angle using an electronic goniometer twice during each of the five tests: once after the patient is helped to the target angle, and once after the patient tries to remember the target angle by his/herself."