Comparison of effects of joint flexibility on the lumbo-pelvic rhythm in healthy university students while bending the trunk forward

[Purpose] To clarify the influence of flexibilities of the hip and lumbar spine joints on bending the trunk forward. [Participants and Methods] We assessed the joint flexibility of 47 healthy university students using the Beighton hypermobility score and assigned them to the group of normal or poor flexibility. We performed electromyography to acquire kinematic data and analyzed the three-dimensional motion while the students bent their trunks forward. Further, we compared the groups based on angular displacements of the hip joint and lumbar spine in each phase of the movement. Offset of the erector spinae and hip extensor muscle activity was calculated as a percentage (%) of the maximum range of motion. [Results] The lumbo-pelvic rhythm differed between participants with and without poor flexibility of the hip joint in the second half of the forward bending task. Participants with poor flexibility of the hip joint showed activation of the erector spinae and biceps femoris for a longer period compared to those with normal flexibility. Notably, flexion–relaxation responses were not found in the biceps femoris of 30% of the participants. [Conclusion] Poor hip joint flexibility may cause low back pain. Measuring the lumbo-pelvic rhythm might help identify individuals at a high risk of low back pain while they are still healthy.