PhD Student

Course start: October 2012

Supervisor: Dr Iain Fletcher
Second Supervisor: Dr Joanna Richards

Working thesis title

Developing a test for investigating the onset of trunk muscle activation in response to a lower body perturbation using Surface Electromyography and Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging

Abstract

The notion of co-ordinated trunk muscle activity underpins Panjabi’s (2003, 1992) model of the spinal stabilising system. When postural balance is challenged, whether it is expected or unexpected muscle of the trunk will act to  provide lumbar stability.

The postural adjustments made when a perturbation is expected is  termed anticipatory postural adjustments and were found to be delayed in participants with chronic lower back pain (CLBP). Similarly, atrophy and asymmetry of the Lumbar Multifidus (LM) and Transversus abdominis muscles (TrA) were found in CLBP populations indicating disturbance to the stabilising system.

When a perturbation is not expected, trunk muscle activation is purportedly delayed leaving the spine with reduced stability for a a very short space of time (milliseconds). Understanding how the trunk muscles respond to known and unknown perturbation tasks can help provide clinicians with a rationale for strategies to help prevent and treat patients with CLBP.

Therefore, the overall aim of the research project is to develop a test that can identify onset of trunk muscle activation in response to known and unknown lower body perturbation.

The purpose is to gain insight and assess the role of TrA, LM, internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO), and Erector Spinae (ES) muscles  in an asymptomatic populations that can be applied to an at risk population and trained participants.

Contact information

T: +44 (0)1234 400 400, Ext. 9126
E: cheryl.barford@beds.ac.uk