Muscle activity during backward perturbation response in patients with clinical vertebral compression fractures

The present study examined muscle activity in response to backward perturbation in patients with clinical vertebral compression fracture (CVCF). The subjects were 32 patients aged 65 years and above consisting of 16 each with (CVCF group) and without (control group) CVCF. The time to peak activity, and time of onset of muscle activity of the anterior tibial, vastus medialis, and rectus abdominis muscles when unexpected backward perturbation was applied were evaluated by surface electromyography. The strength of perturbation was 4% or 6% of the subject’s body weight. In addition, the presence of the stepping reaction to perturbation, severity of low back pain, and vertebral alignment were evaluated. Each item was compared between the two groups. In the CVCF group, kyphosis and severity of low back pain were significantly more severe, the time to peak activity of the anterior tibial muscle after the application of perturbation at 6% of the body weight was significantly shorter, and the time of onset of activity of the rectus abdominis muscle was significantly delayed. This suggests that the time to peak activity of the anterior tibial muscle is shortened and the time of onset of activity of the rectus abdominis muscle is delayed in unexpected backward perturbation in patients with CVCF.