Effects of an eight-week physical exercise program on low back pain and function in fruit workers: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Low back pain is prevalent in workers' health and functional performance.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of a physical exercise program on low back pain and disability in fruit workers.

METHODS

This randomized controlled trial assigned 44 workers (37 ± 9 years) to two groups. The experimental group consisted of 10 men and 12 women with an average age of 38 (± 9) years, and the control group consisted of 8 men and 14 women with an average age of 36 (± 10) years. The experimental group (EG) performed a program of strength and flexibility exercises for eight weeks, twice a week. The control group (CG) received minimal care, with a booklet with guidelines for performing exercises. The primary outcomes included changes in perceived disability and the intensity of pain evaluated by the Rolland-Morris questionnaire and the Numerical Pain Scale, respectively. All outcomes were measured at baseline and after eight weeks of intervention.

RESULTS

A significant difference was observed in the within-group analysis, with a mean reduction in pain intensity in the EG and CG of -4.55 (95%CI -7.01 to -2.09) and -3.81 (95%CI 1.72-5.90), respectively. For disability, a reduction of -4.45 (95% CI -8.89 to -0.02) was observed in the EG and of -4.43 (-7.38 to -1.48) in the CG. There were no significant differences in the between-groups analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The exercise program was not superior to using the educational booklet. However, both interventions showed substantial decreases in pain and disability levels.

Use of unstable surfaces and conscious abdominal contraction on the activity of periscapular muscles

Background/aims

Core training has been recommended in shoulder rehabilitation programs. However, the evidence on this topic is still scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of conscious abdominal contraction combined with unstable surfaces on electromyographic activity of periscapular muscles during the plus phase of a push-up.

Methods

A total of 20 male participants (22.8 ± 2.5 years) were evaluated. Electromyographic signals were collected from the upper, middle and lower trapezius, serratus anterior, and external and internal oblique muscles during push-up exercises on a stable and unstable surface with and without the conscious abdominal contraction. Each participant performed four variations of the plus phase of a push-up.

Results

The results demonstrated that the conscious abdominal contraction caused an increase in the electromyographic activity of external oblique, internal oblique, serratus anterior and lower trapezius muscles (P≤0.008). The unstable surface caused only a relevant increase in electromyographic activity of the abdominal muscles (P≤0.025). Combining the two strategies did not increase the electromyographic activity of any muscles (P≥0.238).

Conclusions

The conscious abdominal contraction seems to be a viable strategy to increase the electromyographic activity of the periscapular muscles.