Assessment of erector spinal muscles activation in pre and post training with surface electromyography in an equestrian athlete with recurring non-specific low back pain: a case report

Abstract

Background: Several studies have highlighted the association between low back pain (LBP) and horse riding, but none have specifically analyzed the underlying causes. Furthermore, there is a lack of literature addressing LBP in equestrian athletes, as the focus is often placed on the health of the horse rather than that of the rider. This study aims to determine if surface electromyography can identify changes in spinal erector activation pre- and post-training in an equestrian athlete with recurring nonspecific LBP by measuring the flexion relaxation phenomenon (FRP).

Case presentation: The patient, an equestrian athlete, experiences lower back pain after training. To analyze this, surface electromyography of the spinal erector muscles was conducted using BTS FREEEMGM 1000 wireless electromyographic probes pre- and post-training, along with assessment using the NPRS (Numeric Pain Rating Scale).

Results: Both FRP and FRR (flexion relaxation ratio) occurred correctly pre- and post-training on both the first and second days. Although FRP occurred correctly, the FRP values obtained post-training were much closer to those of the RMS (root mean square) in the standing phase. These findings could be related to the higher NPRS values.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that surface electromyography can detect differences in spinal erector muscle activation. Additional measurements and a larger study population would enhance the reliability of the results.

Keywords: Inertial sensor; Low back pain; Surface analysis; Tailored rehabilitation.