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Single-Leg Balance Impairments Persist in Fully Operational Military Special Forces Operators With a Previous History of Low Back Pain.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Sell, TC; Clark, NC; Wood, D; Abt, JP; Lovalekar, M; Lephart, SM
Published in: Orthop J Sports Med
May 2014

BACKGROUND: Single-leg balance (SLB) can be chronically impaired after low back pain (LBP). Impaired SLB is a risk factor for recurrent LBP and lower extremity injury. In the United States military, the special forces operator (SFO) deploys on high-risk missions under extreme conditions, and impaired SLB can potentially threaten SFO safety and mission success. PURPOSE: To compare SLB in fully operational SFOs with and without a history of LBP. The hypothesis was that SLB deficits would be present in SFOs with a history of LBP. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A total of 226 SFOs were included in this analysis. Comparisons were made between SFOs with and without medical chart documented history of LBP (LBP group [n = 43]: mean age = 31.2 ± 10.3 years, mean height = 177.3 ± 7.2 cm, mean mass = 87.3 ± 11.8 kg; healthy group [n = 183]: mean age = 28.0 ± 6.0 years, mean height = 177.9 ± 6.0 cm, mean mass = 84.9 ± 8.8 kg). Bilateral SLB was tested (eyes open and eyes closed) in both groups using a force plate. The variability in the ground-reaction forces was averaged across 3 trials for each leg for both conditions. Comparisons were made between legs in the LBP and between the LBP and healthy group (α = .05). RESULTS: There were significant between-group differences for each leg for both conditions, with the healthy group demonstrating better SLB compared with the LBP group. P values ranged from .01 to .03. CONCLUSION: Impaired SLB persists in SFOs with previously reported LBP. Balance assessments of individuals who report LBP may assist with designing targeted interventions to address potential deficits that may increase the risk of future injury. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: SFOs with a known history of LBP would benefit from examination of SLB and may benefit from balance training to resolve any deficits that may be present to lower the potential risk for future injury.

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Published In

Orthop J Sports Med

DOI

ISSN

2325-9671

Publication Date

May 2014

Volume

2

Issue

5

Start / End Page

2325967114532780

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • 4207 Sports science and exercise
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Sell, T. C., Clark, N. C., Wood, D., Abt, J. P., Lovalekar, M., & Lephart, S. M. (2014). Single-Leg Balance Impairments Persist in Fully Operational Military Special Forces Operators With a Previous History of Low Back Pain. Orthop J Sports Med, 2(5), 2325967114532780. https://doi.org/10.1177/2325967114532780
Sell, Timothy C., Nicholas C. Clark, Dallas Wood, John P. Abt, Mita Lovalekar, and Scott M. Lephart. “Single-Leg Balance Impairments Persist in Fully Operational Military Special Forces Operators With a Previous History of Low Back Pain.Orthop J Sports Med 2, no. 5 (May 2014): 2325967114532780. https://doi.org/10.1177/2325967114532780.
Sell TC, Clark NC, Wood D, Abt JP, Lovalekar M, Lephart SM. Single-Leg Balance Impairments Persist in Fully Operational Military Special Forces Operators With a Previous History of Low Back Pain. Orthop J Sports Med. 2014 May;2(5):2325967114532780.
Sell, Timothy C., et al. “Single-Leg Balance Impairments Persist in Fully Operational Military Special Forces Operators With a Previous History of Low Back Pain.Orthop J Sports Med, vol. 2, no. 5, May 2014, p. 2325967114532780. Pubmed, doi:10.1177/2325967114532780.
Sell TC, Clark NC, Wood D, Abt JP, Lovalekar M, Lephart SM. Single-Leg Balance Impairments Persist in Fully Operational Military Special Forces Operators With a Previous History of Low Back Pain. Orthop J Sports Med. 2014 May;2(5):2325967114532780.
Journal cover image

Published In

Orthop J Sports Med

DOI

ISSN

2325-9671

Publication Date

May 2014

Volume

2

Issue

5

Start / End Page

2325967114532780

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • 4207 Sports science and exercise
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences