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May 22, 2019

Strengthen Leg Muscles to Relieve Low Back Pain

A study conducted in Singapore found that resistance training of the leg muscles is an effective way of fighting low back pain among recreational runners. 84 runners with back pain were split into three groups, undergoing 8 weeks of different exercise therapies. Compared with traditional physiotherapy targeting the back muscles, this study showed that training the knee and hip muscles is better in improving running capability, strength, and gait. Regardless of the type of exercise, all runners reported reduced pain and demonstrated improved back muscle function. Based on the results, runners are recommended to consider lower limb resistance training to manage low back pain.

Chronic low back pain is a common problem among recreational runners, affecting approximately one in seven runners. Clinically, there is no specific protocol to treat low back pain for runners. Physiotherapists generally adopt exercise protocols targeting different back muscles in the same way as they treat other patients with back pain. Some exercises train the global, bigger muscle groups responsible for movements; others focus more on the core muscles to stabilise the spine.

The research team led by Associate Professor KONG Pui Wah (Veni) at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, offered a new perspective to treat low back pain in runners. Running is a high-impact activity, with a heavy load on the spine during each foot strike. The ankle, knee, and hip act together as a system to help reduce the force transmission to the pelvis and spine. This connection between the legs and the back urged Dr Kong and her team to postulate that weakness of the leg muscles may reduce the capacity for shock attenuation, transmitting higher forces to the back. Thus, strengthening the leg muscles may contribute to reducing loading and pain in the low back during running.

To investigate whether the new concept works, Dr Kong’s research team recruited 84 men and women who suffered from chronic low back pain and still ran regularly. The runners were randomly divided into three groups to receive 8 weeks of supervised exercise therapies, twice per week. One group tried out the new concept of training the leg muscles, while the other two groups underwent the current best practices of training various back muscles. After the therapy, the researchers followed up at 3 months and 6 months. The outcome measures included self-rated pain and running capability, lower limb strength, back muscle function, and running gait.

Pain reduction is a key rehabilitation outcome in the treatment and management of chronic low back pain. In this study, it is interesting to note that regardless of the type of exercises performed, all three groups reported less pain and demonstrated improved back muscle function. This suggests a general effect of exercise rather than a specific type of exercise for pain relief.

It is encouraging to observe that the group which was allocated to leg muscle training showed better improvement in self-rated running capability, knee strength, and running gait when compared to the other two back exercises groups. These findings support the researchers’ speculation that weak knee extensors may compromise one’s ability to absorb impact shock during running and hence transmitting higher forces to the low back. Thus, improving knee muscle strength can contribute to relieving low back pain.

Exercises targeting the leg muscles led to the greatest increase in running step length among the study participants. By the end of the 6-month follow-up period, the running step length of the leg exercises group increased by almost 10 cm when compared to the start of the study. Assuming the running speed remains the same, increased step length would have resulted in reduced step frequency or cadence. Taking fewer steps to complete the same distance may have reduced the number of impacts on the spine during ground contact, contributing to the reduced pain and improved running capability reported by the runners.

To conclude, strength training of the leg muscles could be a new therapy option for runners suffering from chronic low back pain. After 8 weeks of exercises, runners can expect positive effects such as reduced pain, improved running capability, knee extension strength, and running gait.

References

1. Cai et al. Comparison of lower limb and back exercises for runners with chronic low back pain. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 2017:49 2374-2384.
2. Cai and Kong. Low back and lower limb muscle performance in male and female recreational runners with chronic low back pain. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy 2015:45 436-443.
3. Woolf et al. The Cooper River Bridge Run Study of low back pain in runners and walkers. Journal of South Orthopedic Association 2002:11 136-143.
4. Cappozzo. Force actions in the human trunk during running. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 1983:23 14-22. 5. Seay et al. Trunk bend and twist coordination is affected by low back pain status during running. European Journal of Sport Science 2014:14 563-568.

Written By

KONG Pui Wah (Veni)
Nanyang Technological University

Contact Details

Email: [email protected]
Telephone:
++65 6219 6213

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One thought on “Strengthen Leg Muscles to Relieve Low Back Pain

  1. Very positive post. An athlete if injured will lose his confidence in building his career again. A post like this will help in understanding that he can be on the track soon. Thank you for the post.

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