Abstract

Introduction: Kinematic analysis has been a dominant tool for addressing the neuromuscular and proprioceptive alterations that occur in Low Back Pain (LBP) patients. Movement variability is a crucial component of this analysis. During the past years, a promising approach is the application of non-linear indices.

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare movement variability, as expressed mainly by non-linear indices, at the pelvis and lumbar between LBP patients and healthy participants during gait.

A. Participants and setting: Sixteen (16) LBP patients and thirteen (13) healthy control subjects (non-athletes) participated in the study.
Participants walked on a treadmill at different walking conditions while recorded by a 6-infrared camera optoelectronic system. Kinematic variability of pelvic and lumbar movement was analyzed using linear (standard deviation) and non-linear indices (Maximal Lyapunov Exponent- LyE and Approximate Entropy- ApEn).
B. Main outcome measures: It is expected that the LBP group will present with lower ApEn and/ or LyE values, underlying the less chaotic nature of their gait pattern. Gender differences in movement variability will also be investigated.