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PubMed2002

Microsurgical anatomy of the facial nerve trunk.

Dissection and manipulation of the facial nerve (FN) trunk between its exit from the cranial base through the stylomastoid foramen (SMF) and its bifurcation is a critical step in various otologic, plastic and neurosurgical procedures. This study demonstrates the anatomical relationships and variability of the FN trunk with emphasis on some important morphometric data, particularly with relevance to hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis (HFA). Bilateral microsurgical dissection was performed on twenty-three human cadavers fixed with formalin. The whole trunk of the FN was exposed, its diameter at the SMF and its length were measured, its branches were observed and the site of its bifurcation was determined. Anastomotic connections with other nerves and blood supply of the trunk were studied. The FN invariably emerged from the cranial base through the SMF. Its diameter upon its emergence from the foramen was 2.66 +/- 0.55 mm. Two branches consistently originated from the trunk: the posterior auricular nerve and the nerve to the digastric muscle. Less consistent were the communicating branch with the glossopharyngeal nerve and the nerve to the stylohyoid muscle. The bifurcation of the FN occurred before its penetration into the parotid gland in 15% of cases and within the gland in 85%. The length of the FN trunk was 16.44 +/- 3.2 mm. Anastomoses between the FN and other nerves were observed in one-third of the dissections. The blood supply to the FN trunk was provided by the stylomastoid artery that was identified in 91% of cases. Understanding the microsurgical anatomy of the FN trunk is essential for performing any surgical procedure in the relevant region. Surgical implications of this study are presented with emphasis on HFA surgery.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Trunk positioning accuracy in children 7-18 years old.

Trunk proprioception was measured in 253 healthy children 7-18 years of age using infrared markers placed on the back of the head and on the skin over the T1, T8, and S1 spinous processes. The children were tested for their accuracy in sensing return of the head and trunk to a centered, neutral position in the frontal plane. Whole-body sway was also quantified during 10 s of relaxed standing by measuring mean amplitudes of trunk marker and foot center of pressure (CP) movements. The results show that trunk positioning accuracy improved significantly with age (p = 0.000). Subjects could position their trunk in the frontal plane to within a mean (+/- SD) of 2.5 (+/- 1.1) and 0.9 (+/- 0.6) degrees of the neutral position at ages 7 and 18 years, respectively. No statistically significant gender differences were found. At every age trunk positioning accuracy was diminished in the presence of a continuous external trunk moment (equivalent to 0.01 x body weight x height), although not significantly so. Neither mean trunk sway nor CP amplitudes were significantly correlated with age or sex. The overall results suggest that spine decompensation is only abnormal when it exceeds 20 mm in healthy children and adolescents.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Trunk movement in Parkinson's disease during rising from seated position.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with particular difficulties rising from a seated position. Little is known about the mechanisms of sit-to-stand in this condition. We sought to define trunk movement during sit-to-stand in a group of patients with PD. Six patients and seven normal volunteers were studied using a six camera ELITE motion analysis system (BTS, Milan, Italy), which permitted data collection in the coronal, sagittal, and transverse planes. Retroreflective markers were positioned along the spine at C7, T3, T6, T9, T12, L3, and the sacrum. Whole-trunk kinematics and the movement at the six different trunk markers were recorded during rising. PD patients have a significantly greater degree of trunk flexion than controls, showing a significant increase in angular velocity of the trunk in the sagittal plane. The total range of movement of trunk rotation was significantly smaller in the PD group, but lateral movement in the trunk was greater than normal. These data suggest that patients with early PD compensate for their difficulties rising from a chair by generating greater trunk flexion at higher angular velocity, thus developing greater forward momentum. This process results in a decrease in the duration of the unstable transitional phase of sit-to-stand, allowing PD patients to reach the upright position as easily and safely as possible. Small rotational movements are an effective way to maintain the centre of mass within the base of support during sit-to-stand. This mechanism appears to be denied to the PD patients who may use increased movements in the coronal plane as an alternative strategy.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

Qualitative discrepancies between trunk muscle activity and dynamic postural requirements at the initiation of reaching movements performed while sitting.

Reaching movements are associated with widespread, nonfocal muscle activity. That activity is often assumed to play a postural role. We tested this assumption for the trunk muscles at the initiation of reaching movements with the following question. Does initial trunk muscle activity play a dynamic postural role by resisting the segmental interactive effects of the arm movement on the trunk? Seated subjects performed bilateral reaching movements while target direction was systematically varied. Muscle activity was recorded from flexors and extensors of the trunk and shoulder. Trunk muscle activity was compared with trunk torques calculated from simulations of reaching movements in which the trunk was modeled to stay still. Recorded trunk muscle activity was in qualitative agreement with torque predictions for only some target directions, suggesting that the target directions to counteract postural disturbances at the initiation of reaching movements.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

The coordination between trunk and arm motion during pointing movements.

The coordination between the trunk and arm of six subjects was examined during unrestrained pointing movements to five target locations. Two targets were within arm's length, three were beyond. The trunk participated in reaching primarily when the target could not be attained by arm and scapular motion. When the trunk did contribute to hand transport, its motion started simultaneously with arm movement and continued until target contact. Redundancy in the degrees of freedom used to execute the movement had no effect on the configuration of joints and segments used to attain a specified target; no difference in variability was noted regardless of whether redundancy existed. However, different configurations were used to achieve the same wrist coordinates along a common endpoint path, depending on the final position of the hand. The addition of trunk flexion, rotation and scapular motion did not alter the coupling between the elbow and shoulder joints and had no effect on the path of the hand or the smoothness of its velocity profile. Thus, trunk motion was integrated smoothly into the transport phase of the hand. As the trunk's contribution to hand transport increased, it played a progressively greater role in positioning the hand close to the target during the terminal stage of the reach. Of the movement components measured, trunk flexion was the last component to complete its motion when target reaches were made beyond arm's length. Hence, the trunk not only acts as a postural stabilizer during reaching, but becomes an integral component in positioning the hand close to the target.

Adult↗

PubMed1976

The fine structure of the drum muscles of the tigerfish, Therapon jarbua, as compared with the trunk musculature.

The fibers of drum and trunk muscles of the Tigerfish. Therapon jarbua, differ greatly in diameter. The myofibrils of the trunk muscles are irregularly oriented, while those of the drum muscles are rolled into spiral or concentric bands. Both muscle types possess the sarcomere structure typical of cross-straited musculature. However, the myofibrils of the drum muscles differ greatly in sarcomere length and width from those in the trunk musculature. The trunk muscles contain few mitochondria, whereas in the drum muscles mitochondria are abundant. The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of the drum muscles takes the form of elongated tubes in both the A and the I region; that of the trunk musculature consists of small vesicles. Of the two muscle types, the drum muscle contains more SR. With respect to the form of the T system, the trunk musculature is of the Z type and the drum muscles of the A-I type. The drum muscle displays a considerably greater number of motor endplates; these lack typical junctional folds and have mitochondria with very few cristae. No fat could be demonstrated in either the drum or the trunk muscles. However, the concentration of glycogen is higher in the drum muscles than in the musculature of the trunk.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

The role of canal-neck interaction for the perception of horizontal trunk and head rotation.

The present report considers the conscious perception of passive horizontal rotations of the trunk, the head, or both, by human observers. It examines in particular how this perception depends on the interaction of canal and neck afferents. Three sets of sinusoidal stimulations (0.2 Hz) were applied to subjects (Ss): Rotations of (1) whole body (pure labyrinthine stimuli, lambda), of (2) only the trunk with the head stationary in space (pure neck stimuli, nu), and of (3) both head and trunk, each with an amplitude and a direction of its own, giving rise to various in-phase and counter phase combinations of lambda and nu.--The Ss were to estimate the magnitude of their turning sensations (psi). In doing so, they were to concentrate either on the rotation of their trunk in space (TS) or of their head in space (HS), or of the head relative to the trunk (HT). The TS and HS turning sensations induced by pure lambda-stimuli were essentially the same as to magnitude and direction. Pure nu-stimulation also led to TS and HS turning sensations. However, the former had the direction of the trunk-to-head (T delta S) deflection, the latter that of the head-to-trunk deflection. The nu-induced HS turning sensation represented an illusion, since the head remained stationary in space. When the lambda- and nu-stimuli were combined, the interaction could be described by a linear summation of their effects. The estimates of TS turning followed the equation psi HS approximately lambda-nu, thus well reflecting the actual TS rotation. The estimates of HS could be described by psi HS approximately lambda+k nu; the term k nu represents the "nu-illusion" contaminating the HS turning sensation. The estimates of HT turning were roughly proportional to nu alone and, therefore, close to the actual HT rotation. We conclude that humans may derive a rather faithful information about trunk rotation from the combined activation of canal and neck afferents, but that the sensation of passive head rotation is contaminated by an (illusionary) contribution from neck afferents. These additive and subtractive modes of interaction have parallels in postural reflexes as well as in neuronal responses that are known from cat.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1983

Performance capacity of trunk muscles in ankylosing spondylitis.

The comparative results of four tests (a dynamometer, a single and a repetitive dynamic and a static test) to determine the performance capacity of trunk muscles in ankylosing spondylitis are reported. Seventeen men and four women, aged 31 to 35 yrs, were examined. Trunk muscle performance was compared with the flexion mobility of the spine and ESR. The best correlation between muscle capacity of trunk extensors and spinal mobility was seen in the static trunk extensor test. The best correlation between muscle capacity of trunk flexors and spinal mobility was seen in the single dynamic test. Because the comprehensive exercise therapy including muscle strengthening is supported by our results and there is no generally recommended test for evaluating the performance capacity of trunk muscles, it seems reasonable to develop such tests of trunk muscles for clinical assessment of ankylosing spondylitis. Clinical trials to ensure the positive effect of well trained trunk muscles in ankylosing spondylitis are still lacking.

Abdominal Muscles↗

PubMed1982

A heart with three arterial trunks (tritruncal heart). Report of a case.

The case is described of a 4 1/2-year-old girl with a previously unreported malformation: a heart with three arterial trunks, aorta, main pulmonary artery, and an intermediate vessel, called "intermediate trunk" because it was situated between the aorta and the main pulmonary artery. Each of these three arteries had a semilunar valve at its origin, and their lumens were completely separated from each other. The pulmonary trunk arose from the right ventricle, while the aorta and the intermediate trunk arose from the left ventricle. The intermediate trunk continued as the right pulmonary artery. The pulmonary trunk continued as the left pulmonary artery. The outflow tracts of both ventricles were normal. There were therefore three arterial trunks arising from a heart with two outflow tracts. Our hypothesis on the embryopathogenesis of this case is that there was double septation of the primitive arterial trunk and the aortic sac, without involvement of the conus. In addition, there was a malalignment between the truncal and conal septa. This entity, however rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of absent or anomalous right pulmonary artery.

Aorta↗

PubMed2002

Clinical estimation of trunk position among mechanically ventilated patients.

OBJECTIVES: Trunk position at 45 degrees from the horizontal is associated with a decreased risk of gastroesophageal aspiration. The objectives of this study were to determine the accuracy of trunk flexion estimates compared to a reference standard measurement, and to determine agreement about trunk flexion among ICU clinicians. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Two university-affiliated medical-surgical ICUs. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-three mechanically ventilated ICU patients, seven residents, two fellows, three intensivists, and twenty-eight bedside nurses. INTERVENTIONS: Prospectively, concurrently, and independently during rounds, one bedside nurse, one resident, one fellow, and one intensivist clinically estimated the trunk flexion of mechanically ventilated patients. To record the reference standard, a trained investigator measured trunk position in the vertical plane using a goniometer. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: We made 438 clinical assessments on 33 patients aged 57.2+/-19.4 (SD) years with an APACHE II score of 27.3+/-9.4. Mean trunk flexion estimates were: nurses 24.3+/-12.3 degrees from the horizontal, residents 20.2+/-13.7, fellows 20.3+/-10.8, and intensivists 21.1+/-13.1 compared to the reference standard measurement 16.2+/-9.0 degrees. The accuracy of trunk flexion estimates was fair to moderate [intraclass correlation for reference standard versus nurses (ICC 0.42), residents (ICC 0.52), fellows (ICC 0.36), and intensivists (ICC 0.55)]. The agreement among different groups of clinicians was moderate. CONCLUSIONS: In mechanically ventilated patients, we found that clinical estimates of trunk position were moderately good, agreement amongst caregivers was moderately good, but that all clinicians tended to overestimate the angle of semirecumbency.

APACHE↗

PubMed2006

Clinical interest of digestive arterial trunk anastomoses.

Arterial vascularization of the gastrointestinal tract is a three-level system composed of the coeliac trunk, and both superior and inferior mesenteric arteries. The three levels are joined together via arterial trunk anastomoses such as the so-called and well-known Riolan arcade or supramarginal arcade. The aim of this study was to review the embryology of the digestive arteries in order to understand the anatomic variations, the development of the arterial trunk anastomoses and the potential collateral circulation in the case of obstruction of one or several arterial trunks. The arch theory by Mac Kay and Tandler longitudinal arterial anastomosis account for the genesis of the arterial trunk anastomoses and the main anatomic variations. The coeliac trunk and the superior mesenteric artery are joined together via the pancreaticoduodenal arcades and the Bühler arcade. These anastomoses are divided during pancreatic resections but developed in the case of coeliac trunk stenosis. The mesenteric arteries are joined together by the Riolan, Villemin arcades and by the marginal artery of Drummond. This collateral circulation and the Riolan arcade in particular, is utilized during left colonic resection. In the case of this collateral circulation insufficiency, inferior mesenteric artery reimplantation is necessary during abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy. Arteriopathy, more and more frequent due to population ageing is responsible for frequent obliteration of one or several digestive arterial trunks with subsequent development of collateral circulation. For such reasons, a sound knowledge of digestive arterial anatomy is an absolute prerequisite for surgical practice.

Arteriovenous Anastomosis↗

PubMed1990

Differential development of cholinergic neurons from cranial and trunk neural crest cells in vitro.

Several studies have suggested that the development of cholinergic properties in cranial parasympathetic neurons is determined by these cells' axial level of origin in the neural crest. All cranial parasympathetic neurons normally derive from cranial neural crest. Trunk neural crest cells give rise to sympathetic neurons, most of which are noradrenergic. To determine if there is an intrinsic difference in the ability of cranial and trunk neural crest cells to form cholinergic neurons, we have compared the development of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-immunoreactive cells in explants of quail cranial and trunk neural crest in vitro. Both cranial and trunk neural crest explants gave rise to ChAT-immunoreactive cells in vitro. In both types of cultures, some of the ChAT-positive cells also expressed immunoreactivity for the catecholamine synthetic enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase. However, several differences were seen between cranial and trunk cultures. First, ChAT-immunoreactive cells appeared two days earlier in cranial than in trunk cultures. Second, cranial cultures contained a higher proportion of ChAT-immunoreactive cells. Finally, a subpopulation of the ChAT-immunoreactive cells in cranial cultures exhibited neuronal traits, including neurofilament immunoreactivity. In contrast, neurofilament-immunoreactive cells were not seen in trunk cultures. These results suggest that premigratory cranial and trunk neural crest cells differ in their ability to form cholinergic neurons.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Quantitative assessment of the control capability of the trunk muscles during oscillatory bending motion under a new experimental protocol.

OBJECTIVE: A new quantitative technique for measuring the trunk control capability/coordination was to be developed in this study. DESIGN: Fitts' experimental paradigm was employed to quantify the information processing capacity (bits/s) of the trunk as well as dynamic motor performance such as velocity and acceleration during flexion and extension. BACKGROUND: The quantification of functional capability of the trunk such as range of motion, strength, and endurance have been used to evaluate low back pain patient. Especially, dynamic trunk motion during flexion and extension has been studied not only to quantify the severity of the low-back impairment but to classify patients. METHOD: A lumbar motion monitor was used to record the time series of range of motion (RoM) and compute the velocity and acceleration of the trunk motion. Twenty male subjects without any back pain in the past 6 months and previous history of back injury participated. Each subject performed 22 controlled flexion/extension at predetermined RoMs as well as one ballistic trunk flexion/extension at a self-selected RoM. RESULTS: The information processing capacity of the trunk among healthy subjects was found to have a mean of 4.23 (SD 1.43) bits/s based on Fitts' law. Also, the velocity of dynamic trunk motion was measured with a considerable reduction in intersubject variability when the RoMs were controlled. A short but still accurate experimental protocol was suggested via a series of statistical analyses to provide an objective and easy-to-use method to evaluate the functional capacity of low-back pain patients.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Anticipatory postural adjustment in selected trunk muscles in post stroke hemiparetic patients.

OBJECTIVES: To study electromyographic characteristics of anticipatory postural adjustment in axial and lateral, posterior and anterior trunk muscles during the performance of upper-and lower-limb flexion tasks, in subjects with hemiparesis after stroke and to determine the relationship between anticipatory activity and subjects' motor and functional status. DESIGN: A nonrandomized control study. SETTING: Geriatric rehabilitation center in Israel. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty poststroke hemiparetic patients and 30 healthy control subjects. INTERVENTION: Electromyographic activity of the lumbar erector spinae and of the latissimus dorsi muscles was recorded bilaterally during flexion of either arm and from the 2 rectus abdominis and obliquus externus muscles during flexion of either hip. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Muscles' onset latency, cross-correlation values between the temporal activation profile of corresponding pairs and between ipsilateral muscular pairs, symmetry in activation magnitude of corresponding muscles, and relation between electromyographic activity and motor and functional performance RESULTS: Onset latencies of trunk muscles were partially delayed in the patients with longest hindrance displayed by the erector spinae ipsilateral to the flexing arm (P<.04). Temporal synchronization between pertinent muscular pairs was lower in the patients than in the healthy subjects, with significant group differences (P<.05 or lower) in the correlations between ipsilateral pairs of trunk muscles. Activation of the corresponding lateral trunk muscles in the patients was significantly less symmetrical than in the controls (P<.03 or lower) because of reduced activity on the paretic body side, especially on flexing of the paretic limbs. Conversely, in the controls as well as on the nonparetic side of the patients, limb flexion was associated with increased activity in the ipsilateral lateral trunk muscle. The erector spinae muscle in both groups and on both sides was more active on the contralateral side than on the ipsilateral side to the flexing arm. The reduced activity level in trunk muscles on the paretic body side was associated with deficiencies in motor and functional abilities. CONCLUSIONS: Major impairments in the activity of trunk muscles in hemiparetic subjects were manifested in the reduced activity level of the lateral trunk muscles, in delayed onset, and in reduced synchronization between activation of pertinent muscular pairs. These problems were associated with motor and functional deficits and warrant specific consideration during physical rehabilitation of post stroke hemiparetic patients.

Abdominal Muscles↗

PubMed2006

An observational electromyography study of the effect of trunk flexion in low-velocity frontal whiplash-type impacts.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of forward and lateral trunk flexion on the cervical electromyogram and head kinematic response to whiplash-type frontal impacts. DESIGN: Observational study of sled impacts. SETTING: Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty healthy volunteers. INTERVENTION: Twenty volunteers were subjected to increasing low-velocity (<8km/h) frontal impacts of 4.4, 7.6, 10.3, and 13.3m/s(2) acceleration with trunk forward flexed by 45 degrees and laterally flexed to the right and left by 45 degrees . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bilateral electromyography of the sternocleidomastoids, trapezii, and splenii capitis and acceleration of the sled, torso, and head were recorded. RESULTS: With either direction of lateral trunk flexion at impact, the trapezii electromyographic activity increased with increasing acceleration (P<.05). With the trunk flexed to the left, the left trapezius generated 39% of its maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) electromyographic activity, while the right trapezius generated 31% of its MVC electromyographic activity. The left splenius (ipsilateral to leftward trunk flexion) generated 24% of its MVC electromyographic activity, with all other muscles generating 15% or less of this measure. With the trunk flexed to the right, the right trapezius generated 38% of its MVC electromyographic activity, while the left trapezius generated 32% of this value. Again, the ipsilateral (to trunk flexion) splenius capitis generated 27% of its MVC electromyographic activity, and all other muscles 11% or less of this measure. CONCLUSIONS: When subjects sit with trunk flexed out of neutral posture at the time of frontal impact, the cervical muscle response is low and unlikely to be injurious.

Acceleration↗

PubMed2006

Changes in axial stiffness of the trunk as a function of walking speed.

Research suggests that abnormal coordination patterns between the thorax and pelvis in the transverse plane observed in patients with Parkinson's disease and the elderly might be due to alteration in axial trunk stiffness. The purpose of this study was to develop a tool to estimate axial trunk stiffness during walking and to investigate its functional role. Fourteen healthy young subjects participated in this study. They were instructed to walk on the treadmill and kinematic data was collected by 3D motion analysis system. Axial trunk stiffness was estimated from the angular displacement between trunk segments and the amount of torque around vertical axis of rotation. The torque due to arm swing cancelled out the torque due to the axial trunk stiffness during walking and the thoracic rotation was of low amplitude independent of changes in walking speeds within the range used in this study (0.85-1.52 m/s). Estimated axial trunk stiffness increased with increasing walking speed. Functionally, the suppression of axial rotation of thorax may have a positive influence on head stability as well as allowing recoil between trunk segments. Furthermore, the increased stiffness at increased walking speed would facilitate the higher frequency rotation of the trunk in the transverse plane required at the higher walking speeds.

Abdomen↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The association of low back pain, neuromuscular imbalance, and trunk extension strength in athletes.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Imbalanced patterns of erector spinae activity and reduced trunk extension strength have been observed among patients with low back pain (LBP). The association between LBP and neuromuscular imbalance still remains unclear. PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between LBP, neuromuscular imbalance, clinical symptoms, and trunk extension strength on two independent occasions, after dynamic neuromuscular changes through a back exercise program. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Experimental longitudinal study of the lower back in a clinical setting. PATIENT SAMPLE: Eighty-two elite amateur tennis players with and without LBP. OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical testing of spinal mobility and muscular flexibility of the lower back. Isometric voluntary maximum trunk extension strength. Surface electromyography (EMG) of lumbar erector spinae. METHODS: Athletes underwent a standardized clinical examination with common tests for spinal mobility and muscular flexibility, followed by an isometric trunk extension tests in a specially built apparatus with simultaneous surface EMG recording from right and left lumbar erector spinae. Imbalance quotients were calculated using integrated EMG (IEMG) measures. The relationships between LBP, neuromuscular imbalance, trunk extension strength, and clinical findings were investigated before and after a back exercise program using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: A significant association between neuromuscular imbalance of erector spinae and the occurrence of LBP was observed, whereas no significant imbalances were found in subjects without LBP. The number of subjects with LBP decreased proportionally with the occurrence of neuromuscular imbalance in the lumbar region after the completion of a back exercise program. However, neuromuscular imbalances were still present during retesting among subjects whose LBP did not resolve; the relationship between neuromuscular imbalance of lumbar erector spinae and LBP was significant again. On the contrary, no significant association between LBP and maximum isometric trunk extension strength or neuromuscular imbalance and maximum isometric trunk extension strength was found before or after the exercise program. No clear relationship between LBP and clinical testing of the lumbar spine or neuromuscular imbalance and clinical testing was found on the two independent testing occasions. CONCLUSION: A direct relationship between LBP and neuromuscular imbalance was documented in athletes with LBP. Maximum isometric trunk extension strength had no relationship to the presence of LBP or the occurrence of neuromuscular imbalance of erector spinae. Common clinical testing of spinal mobility and muscular flexibility had only limited correlation to LBP and neuromuscular imbalance.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Symmetry and linearity of trunk function in subjects with non-specific low back pain.

Objective. To investigate the effect of a standard rehabilitation program on the symmetry of trunk kinematics in subjects with non-specific low back pain.Design. Assessing lumbar spine kinematics in the cardinal planes using dynamometry.Background. Previous evaluations of trunk symmetry focussed more on anatomical rather than functional symmetry. Correlation of functional symmetry with low back pain was occasionally performed, but only for base line evaluations. To the best of the author's knowledge, there is no study examining the effect of exercise on the functional symmetry of the trunk, especially in non-specific low back pain subjects.Methods. Two groups of young male subjects whose working conditions incurred long daily hours of sitting and standing participated in the study. Muscles of the lumbar spine were initially evaluated in the cardinal planes using dynamometry. The same parameters (maximum isometric torque, dynamic torque, angular velocity and range of motion) were then repeatedly measured throughout a standardized strength protocol lasting for 12 sessions over a four-week period.Results. As pain gradually disappeared over a one-month period of rehabilitation, certain factors of the trunk kinematics exhibited convergence towards perfect symmetry while others showed oscillations. Moreover, global right-left data for certain trunk kinematics exhibited near-perfect linear relationship.Conclusion. Functional symmetry of the trunk in the coronal and transverse planes can be used to assess the progress of rehabilitation programs of non-specific low back pain subjects. RelevanceRehabilitation programs focus on the progress of directly measured trunk kinematics, which do not always exhibit monotonic behavior. This paper alludes to the importance of tracking symmetry of trunk kinematics as it may help clinicians modify the strengthening protocols in order to achieve more rapid relief from back pain.

Adult↗