Comparison of Trunk Proprioceptive Ability, Postural Control, and Neuromuscular Responses to ...

146 Pages·2015·2.98 MB·English

by  Grace Glofcheskie

Comparison of Trunk Proprioceptive Ability, Postural Control,
and Neuromuscular Responses to Sudden Trunk Perturbations
Between Athletes and Non-athletes

by

Grace Olivia Glofcheskie

A Thesis
presented to the
University of Guelph

In partial fulfillment of requirements
for the degree of
Master of Science
in
Human Health and Nutritional Sciences

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

© Grace Olivia Glofcheskie, September, 2015
ABSTRACT

COMPARISON OF TRUNK PROPRIOCEPTIVE ABILITY, POSTURAL CONTROL,
AND NEUROMUSCULAR RESPONSES TO SUDDEN TRUNK PERTURBATIONS
BETWEEN ATHLETES AND NON-ATHLETES

Grace Olivia Glofcheskie Advisor:
University of Guelph, 2015 Dr. Stephen H.M. Brown

Trunk motor control is essential for athletic performance, as the trunk is the centre of the kinetic
chain and the base for limb movements. This thesis aims to expand the knowledge of trunk motor
control in athletes compared to non-athletes, and whether it differs between athletes of different
backgrounds, namely runners and golfers. Postural control was investigated using a seated
postural control task. Neuromuscular control was investigated using sudden trunk loading
perturbations. Proprioceptive ability was examined using active trunk repositioning. Athletes
demonstrated greater trunk postural control during the seated postural control task compared to
non-athletes. Athletes demonstrated faster trunk muscle activation onsets, higher muscle
amplitudes, and less lumbar spine movement in response to sudden trunk loading perturbations
when compared to non-athletes. Golfers demonstrated greater proprioceptive ability in trunk
repositioning tasks compared to runners and non-athletes. This suggests an interactive
relationship between neuromuscular control, postural control, and proprioception in athletes.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you to Dr. Stephen Brown, Dr. John Srbely, and Dr. Jamie Burr for your guidance and
insight throughout my time as a graduate student. I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity
to learn from such incredible researchers who share the same passion for sports and science.
Steve, thank you for being an incredible advisor and mentor. I am forever thankful for my time in
your lab. Thank you for the opportunity to discover my passion for biomechanics and to grow as
a researcher. I am appreciative of your positive encouragement and guidance that enabled me to
become an independent critical thinker, writer, and scientist.

Thank you to my colleagues and friends in the HHNS department. To the members of the Brown
lab: Derek, Shawn and Kelsey, you have made these past few years truly unforgettable. I am
appreciative of all the help you provided as a labmate, and laughs that each of you has provided
as a friend. To Dorelle and Lukas, thank you for your unwavering support and friendship. I have
so many great memories of our time at Guelph, and look forward to seeing where our friendship
takes us in the future. Thank you to the extended biomechanics family in HHNS, I am grateful
for being a part of a unique group of people with such a strong sense of community.

Thank you to my family and friends for their endless support. To my parents: thank you for
always encouraging me to find my passion and pursue my dreams. Thank you to my siblings,
Adam, Luke, and Rachel, for supporting everything I have done in the past and being a positive
influence on the person I am today. I am forever grateful for your support in this endeavor and
the many more in the future!

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 3.1 Participant Characteristics
Table 4.1 Maximum Isometric Trunk Strength
Table 4.2 Lumbar Spine Range of Motion
Table 4.3 Muscle Activation Frequencies during Perturbations
Table 4.6.1 Maximum Isometric Trunk Strength ANOVA summary
Table 4.6.2 Lumbar Spine Range of Motion ANOVA Summary
Table 4.6.3 Force Plate Outcome Measures ANOVA Summary
Table 4.6.4 Perturbation Kinematics ANOVA Summary
Table 4.6.5 Perturbation Muscle Activation Onset ANOVA Summary
Table 4.6.6 Perturbation Muscle Amplitude ANOVA Summary
Table 4.6.7 Muscle Activation Pre-perturbation ANOVA Summary
Table 4.6.8 Sagittal Active Trunk Repositioning ANOVA Summary
Table 4.6.9 Axial Active Trunk Repositioning with End Range of Motion Reference Point
ANOVA Summary
Table 4.6.10 Axial Active Trunk Repositioning with Neutral Reference Point ANOVA Summary

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 3.1 Participant Experimental Setup
Figure 3.2 Trunk Extensor Strength Testing
Figure 3.3 Trunk Flexor Strength Testing
Figure 3.4 Seated Postural Control Task
Figure 3.5 Sudden Trunk Loading Perturbations
Figure 3.6 Active Trunk Repositioning in the Sagittal Direction
Figure 3.7 Active Trunk Repositioning in the Axial Direction
Figure 3.8 EMG Activation Processing
Figure 4.3.1 CoP Displacement Range
Figure 4.3.2 RMS Displacement
Figure 4.3.3 CoP Velocity Range
Figure 4.3.4 Cumulative Path Length
Figure 4.3.5 Cumulative Path Length Velocity
Figure 4.4.1 Lumbar Spine Displacement for Anterior Perturbations
Figure 4.4.2 Lumbar Spine Displacement for Anterior Twist Perturbations
Figure 4.4.3 Lumbar Spine Displacement for Posterior Perturbations
Figure 4.4.4 Lumbar Spine Displacement for Posterior Twist Perturbations
Figure 4.4.5 Erector Spinae Muscle Activation Onset for Anterior Perturbations
Figure 4.4.6 Erector Spinae Muscle Activation Onset for Anterior Twist Perturbations
Figure 4.4.7 Abdominal Muscle Activation Onset for Posterior Perturbations
Figure 4.4.8 Abdominal Muscle Activation Onset for Posterior Twist Perturbations
Figure 4.4.9 Erector Spinae Muscle Amplitude for Anterior Perturbations
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Figure 4.4.10 Erector Spinae Muscle Amplitude for Anterior Twist Perturbations
Figure 4.4.11 Abdominal Muscle Amplitude for Posterior Perturbations
Figure 4.4.12 Abdominal Muscle Amplitude for Posterior Twist Perturbations
Figure 4.5.1 Active Trunk Repositioning for Absolute Error in the Sagittal Direction
Figure 4.5.2 Active Trunk Repositioning for Variable Error in the Sagittal Direction
Figure 4.5.3 Active Trunk Repositioning for Absolute Error in the Axial Direction for Neutral
Reference Point

Figure 4.5.4 Active Trunk Repositioning for Absolute Error in the Axial Direction for End
Range Reference Point

Figure 4.5.5 Active Trunk Repositioning for Variable Error in the Axial Direction for End Range
of Motion Reference Point

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

AP – Anterior posterior
AT – Axial Twist
CoP – Centre of pressure
EMG – Electromyography
EO – External Oblique
ES – Erector Spinae
FE – Flexion/Extension
IO – Internal Oblique
L – Lumbar vertebral levels
LB – Lateral Bend
LEO – Left External Oblique
LES – Lumbar Erector Spinae
LIO – Left Internal Oblique
LLES – Left Lumbar Erector Spinae
LTES – Left Thoracic Erector Spinae
ML – Medial lateral
MVIC – Maximum voluntary isometric contraction
REO – Right External Oblique
RIO – Right Internal Oblique
RMS – Root Mean Square
RLES – Right Lumbar Erector Spinae
RTES – Right Thoracic Erector Spinae
T – Thoracic vertebral levels
TES – Thoracic Erector Spinae
S – Sacral level

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract ii

Acknowledgments iii

List of Tables iv

List of Figures v

List of Abbreviations vii

Chapter 1: Introduction 1
1.1 Purpose 6
1.2 Hypotheses 7

Chapter 2: Review of Literature 9
2.1 Anatomy of the Trunk 9
2.2 Trunk Stability 10
2.2.1 Mechanisms of Trunk Stability 10
2.2.2 Trunk Stability in Athletes 12
2.3 Trunk Perturbations 14
2.3.1 Neuromuscular Response 14
2.3.2 Perturbations in Low Back Pain Individuals 15
2.3.3 Perturbations in Athletes 18
2.4 Balance and Postural Control 19
2.4.1 Mechanisms of Balance Control 19
2.4.2 Balance in Low Back Pain Individuals 21
2.4.3 Balance in Athletes 22
2.5 Proprioception 24
2.5.1 Proprioceptive Mechanisms 24
2.5.2 Measures of Proprioception 25
2.5.3 Proprioception in Low Back Pain Individuals 26
2.5.4 Proprioception in Athletes 28
2.6 Relationship between neuromuscular control, postural control, 30
and proprioception
2.6.1 Relationship in Low Back Pain Individuals 30
2.6.2 Relationship in Athletes 32

Chapter 3: Methodology 33
3.1 Participant Characteristics 33
3.2 Overview 34
3.2.1 Maximum Isometric Trunk Strength 34
3.2.2 Seated Trunk Postural Control Task 37
3.2.3 Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contractions 38
3.2.4 Range of Motion 40
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3.2.5 Sudden Trunk Loading Perturbations 41
3.2.6 Active Trunk Repositioning 43
3.3 Data Analyses 46
3.3.1 Maximum Isometric Trunk Strength 46
3.3.2 Seated Trunk Postural Control 46
3.3.3 Kinematics 47
3.3.4 EMG 48
3.3.5 Active Trunk Repositioning 49
3.4 Statistical Analyses 50

Chapter 4: Results 52
4.1 Maximum Isometric Trunk Strength 52
4.2 Lumbar Spine Range of Motion 53
4.3 Seated Trunk Postural Control 54
4.4 Sudden Trunk Loading Perturbations 58
4.4.1 Kinematics 58
4.4.2 Electromyography 62
4.5 Active Trunk Repositioning 69
4.6 Summary of Statistical Results 73

Chapter 5: Discussion 82
5.1 Hypotheses Revisited 82
5.2 Participant Characteristics 83
5.3 Maximum Isometric Trunk Strength 86
5.4 Lumbar Spine Range of Motion 89
5.5 Seated Trunk Postural Control 89
5.6 Sudden Trunk Loading Perturbations 92
5.6.1 Muscle Activation Timing 92
5.6.2 Muscle Amplitude Responses 94
5.6.3 Muscle Activation Frequency 96
5.6.4 Postural Response to Perturbations 99
5.6.5 Integrated Response 100
5.7 Active Trunk Position Matching 102
5.7.1 Sagittal Trunk Repositioning 102
5.7.2 Axial Trunk Repositioning 104
5.8 Relationship between neuromuscular control, postural control,
and proprioception 106
5.9 Limitations
5.9.1 Heterogeneity of Participants 107
5.9.2 Perturbation Apparatus 108
5.9.3 Active Trunk Repositioning 109
5.10 Recommendations for Future Research 109
5.11 Conclusions 110

References 112

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Appendix A 122
Consent Form 122
General Health Questionnaire 129
Athlete Activity Questionnaire 130
The Questionnaire of Baecke et al. for Measurement of a Person’s Habitual 131
Physical Activity

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