Background and aim:The role of thoraco-lumbar muscles is important in spinal column stability. Following fatigue due to constant activity, these muscles encounter with variable control pattern and variations of median and mean frequencies are little in relation to torque of force. However these parameters are useful in the literatures, but due to complexity of neuromuscular interaction and variety of motor control, signal processing can determine a wide range of changes and measurements.     

Signal processing nonlinear techniques exploit in biologic signals. Variables of nonlinear techniques are recurrence, determinism, entropy and so on.

The purpose of this study was to determine changes of entropy as nonlinear parameter in comparison with linear parameter and applicability of entropic measurements of the erector spinae muscles during fatigue.   

Materials and methods: Ten healthy women and 6 women with nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) with a range of 20-30 years old patticipated in this study. Surface electromyography of isometric activities recorded from trunk (T12), lumbar (L3) and biceps femoris muscles during modified Sorenson isometric fatigue test. Median and mean frequency and also nonlinear parameters such as entropy and trend measured in one second of muscles activities before and onset of fatigue. 

Results:  Following fatigue in healthy group, median and mean frequencies reduced at a range of 12-20% (p<0.05). This decrement in LBP group was little (4 - 20%, p<0.05). Entropy increased 120-200% and trend reduced 800-2000% in normal subjects (p<0.05), whereas subjects with LBP indicated increment of entropy 65-220% and decrement of trend 240-500% (p<0.05). Before and after fatigue there was a significance difference between two groups in entropy parameter (p<0.05), whereas median and mean frequencies differences were not significant.

Conclusion:Following static positions, fatigue occurred in three levels of above muscles particularly at lumbar region. Traditional fatigue indicators showed good differences, but percentage of variability was low in comparison to nonlinear parameters. It suggests that nonlinear variables especially entropy are more sensitive than traditional indicators and can explain these stochastic behaviors

Background and aim: The presence of the flexion relaxation phenomenon (FRP) during trunk flexion represents myoelectric  silence consistent with increased load sharing of the posterior discoligamentous passive structures. A number of studies have shown differences in the FRP between patients with chronic low back pain and healthy individuals, Persistent activation of the lumbar erector spinae musculature among patients with back pain may represent the body's attempt to stabilize injured spinal structures via reflexogenic ligamentomuscular activation for protecting them from further injury and avoiding pain.

Materials and methods: Two groups of female subjects ((20 - 40 years old) were participated in this study. First group consisted of 10 subjects with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and second group consisted of 10 healthy ones as control group. Both groups have performed 5 cycles of trunk flexion - extension . The speed of the movement repetition controlled by an electronic metronome . The EMG signals recorded from T12 and L3 paravertebral muscles and bisepse femoris on the right side. The lumbar flexion motion degree has been measured by the digital flexible goniometry.  All subjects have done Sorenson Back Endurance test in prone laying position. The subjects have extended their trunk up to the horizontal position and sustained in this position up to fatigue level .The subjects leave the table and asked to do 5 more cycle of trunk flexion - extension.

Results:  In patients group there is an increment and significant differences in lumbar flexion degree at the time of muscle EMG off  in comparison with healthy subjects after fatigue test (p<0.05). In both groups, the myoelectric silence period showed a significant change with respect to the pre- fatigue (p<0.05). The median frequencies shifted to lower frequencies after fatigue protocol (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Muscle reflexive responses would change following fatigue protocol. Therefore, the muscle activity will increase after the fatigue period. In the other hand, in patient group the role of the muscles as a stabilizer seems to be increased to enhance the stability at the injured segment after fatigue protocol .This protects the segment against pain and disability.