Development and evaluation of a passive trunk support system for Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.
Mohammad Nauzef Mahmood, Laura H C Peeters, Micha Paalman and 3 others
PMID 29540235WHAT IT FOUND
A passive trunk support prototype reduced lower back muscle activity by 1% to 3% of maximum voluntary contraction in healthy men during seated trunk flexion, with no reported pain or discomfort.
Key findings
01Wearing the orthosis reduced activity in the lumbar longissimus and iliocostalis muscles by 1% to 3% of maximum voluntary contraction compared to no support.
02Abdominal muscle activity and thoracic back muscle activity did not change significantly when wearing the device.
03None of the ten participants reported pain or discomfort while using the orthosis.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
The study was conducted only on healthy participants, not on patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The sample size was very small (n=10). The reduction in muscle activity (1-3% MVC) is small in absolute terms. The orthosis only supports movement in the sagittal plane (forward/backward), not sideways or twisting. Deep trunk muscles were not measured. Friction in the mechanical system may have limited the device's effectiveness. The support was not fully customized for each individual's biomechanics.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this device reduces muscle effort for DMD patients. The study tested healthy men, and the authors note that DMD patients have weaker muscles, so the effect in the target population is unknown and may differ.