Lower Back and Lower Limb Neuromuscular Structure and Function in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients with Associated Radiculopathy

Chronic low back pain patients with associated radiculopathy (LBP-R) experience neuromuscular symptoms in the lower back and down the leg; however research to date is limited to the lower back and trunk. This thesis aims to expand previous research into the lower limb. LBP-R patients with unilateral radiculopathy and healthy matched controls were recruited. Structure of the sciatic nerve and associated musculature was investigated using ultrasound imaging, and functional capacity was analyzed through surface electromyography and force plate recordings during balance perturbations. Results showed that LBP-R patients had swollen sciatic nerves, but that this was not associated with altered muscle quality or the ability of the lower back and leg muscles to activate sub-maximally, with the exception of soleus. Additionally, LBP-R patients’ lower back and leg muscle activation timing during balance perturbations was not delayed; however there were some differences in the kinetic response following perturbation in LBP-R patients.