Comparison of Pelvic Tilt Before and After Hip Flexor Stretching in Healthy Adults.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the association between hip flexor length and pelvic tilt or lumbar lordosis by quantifying the effect of stretching on pelvic tilt and lumbar lordosis.

Methods: We quantified pelvic tilt and lumbar lordosis before and after a single session of passive hip flexor stretching in a sample of 23 male participants. Changes in hip flexor length were also characterized, using a Thomas test protocol to measure passive hip extension in supine lying.

Between-days reliability of electromyographic measures of paraspinal muscle fatigue at 40, 50 and 60% levels of maximal voluntary contractile force.

Objective: To ascertain which percentage of maximal voluntary contractile force of the paraspinal muscles, when tested in a functional position, is most reliable for assessing electromyographic (EMG) fatigue changes.

Subjects: Ten healthy volunteers with no history of low back pain (six males).

Main Outcome Measures: The surface EMG signal during 60-second isometric contractions of the paraspinal muscles at 40, 50 and 60% levels of maximal voluntary contractile force was captured and analysed.