Effect of two different exercise regimens on trunk muscle morphometry and endurance in soldiers in training.

Background: Limited evidence exists on how strength and endurance exercises commonly used to prevent low back pain affect muscle morphometry and endurance.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of 2 exercise regimens on the morphometry and endurance of key trunk musculature in a healthy population.

Design: The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial.

Abdominal and lumbar multifidus muscle size and symmetry at rest and during contracted States. Normative reference ranges.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to establish reference values for abdominal and lumbar multifidus muscles at rest and while contracted in a sample of active healthy adults.

Methods: Three hundred forty participants (mean age ± SD, 21.8 ± 3.

The Functional Movement Screen: a reliability study.

Study Design: Reliability study.

Objectives: To determine intrarater test-retest and interrater reliability of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) among novice raters.

Background: The FMS is used by various examiners to assess movement and predict time-loss injuries in diverse populations (eg, youth to professional athletes, firefighters, military service members) of active participants.

Predictors of occurrence and severity of first time low back pain episodes: findings from a military inception cohort.

Primary prevention studies suggest that additional research on identifying risk factors predictive of low back pain (LBP) is necessary before additional interventions can be developed. In the current study we assembled a large military cohort that was initially free of LBP and followed over 2 years. The purposes of this study were to identify baseline variables from demographic, socioeconomic, general health, and psychological domains that were predictive of a) occurrence; b) time; and c) severity for first episode of self-reported LBP.

Brief psychosocial education, not core stabilization, reduced incidence of low back pain: results from the Prevention of Low Back Pain in the Military (POLM) cluster randomized trial.

Background: Effective strategies for the primary prevention of low back pain (LBP) remain elusive with few large-scale clinical trials investigating exercise and education approaches. The purpose of this trial was to determine whether core stabilization alone or in combination with psychosocial education prevented incidence of low back pain in comparison to traditional lumbar exercise.

Methods: The Prevention of Low Back Pain in the Military study was a cluster randomized clinical study with four intervention arms and a two-year follow-up.

Reliability of lower quarter physical performance measures in healthy service members.

Introduction: Measures of endurance, flexibility, strength, and power may be of value in predicting injury risk, but application to the military setting has been limited. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and precision of lower quarter physical performance measures among novice raters.

Methods: Sixty-four (53 male, 11 female) healthy active duty Soldiers (aged 25.

Inter-rater reliability of ultrasound imaging of the trunk musculature among novice raters.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the inter-rater reliability of ultrasound imaging for assessing trunk muscle morphologic characteristics at rest and while contracted among different pairs of novice raters. The secondary purpose was to compare 3 different measurement techniques for assessing lateral abdominal muscle thickness.

Methods: A single-group repeated measures reliability study was conducted on 21 healthy participants (mean ± SD, 21.

Effects of traditional sit-up training versus core stabilization exercises on short-term musculoskeletal injuries in US Army soldiers: a cluster randomized trial.

Background: The US Army has traditionally utilized bent-knee sit-ups as part of physical training and testing. It is unknown whether the short-term effects of a core stabilization exercise program without sit-up training may result in decreased musculoskeletal injury incidence and work restriction compared with traditional training.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the short-term effects of a core stabilization exercise program (CSEP) without sit-up training and a traditional exercise program (TEP) on musculoskeletal injury incidence and work restriction.

Effects of sit-up training versus core stabilization exercises on sit-up performance.

Purpose: Core stabilization exercises target abdominal and trunk muscles without the excessive loading that occurs during sit-ups. However, core stabilization exercise programs (CSEP) have not been widely adopted in the US Army partially because of the perceived deleterious impact they would have on performance during the Army Physical Fitness Test. The purpose was to determine whether performing CSEP in lieu of sit-ups during unit physical training would have detrimental effects on sit-up performance and passing rates on the fitness test.

Psychosocial education improves low back pain beliefs: results from a cluster randomized clinical trial (NCT00373009) in a primary prevention setting.

The general population has a pessimistic view of low back pain (LBP), and evidence-based information has been used to positively influence LBP beliefs in previously reported mass media studies. However, there is a lack of randomized trials investigating whether LBP beliefs can be modified in primary prevention settings. This cluster randomized clinical trial investigated the effect of an evidence-based psychosocial educational program (PSEP) on LBP beliefs for soldiers completing military training.

Rationale, design, and protocol for the prevention of low back pain in the military (POLM) trial (NCT00373009).

Background: There are few effective strategies reported for the primary prevention of low back pain (LBP). Core stabilization exercises targeting the deep abdominal and trunk musculature and psychosocial education programs addressing patient beliefs and coping styles represent the current best evidence for secondary prevention of low back pain. However, these programs have not been widely tested to determine if they are effective at preventing the primary onset and/or severity of LBP.