Habitual posture and weekly time spent sitting do not contribute to the lumbopelvic curvature during active unilateral knee extension in sitting test.
Hiroshi Takasaki, Kazuki Kikkawa, Toby Hall
PMID 33132523WHAT IT FOUND
Habitual slouching and total sitting time did not predict lumbopelvic control during the active unilateral knee extension test in young adults.
Gender was the only significant predictor, with males showing poorer control. Clinicians should not expect posture correction alone to improve this specific movement control.
Key findings
01Neither habitual posture score nor time spent sitting contributed significantly to lumbopelvic alignment during the test.
02Gender was a significant predictor, with males showing greater lumbopelvic kyphosis (poorer performance) than females.
03The presence of low back pain did not significantly contribute to test performance in this cohort.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was determined by convenience rather than a priori power calculation, potentially reducing the ability to detect small effects. Participants were recruited from a university, likely excluding individuals with severe mobility deficits or higher disability levels, limiting generalizability to a broader clinical population. The mean Oswestry Disability Index score was 11.8%, which is below the typical cut-off for a clinical population, suggesting the participants had relatively mild or no functional impairment. The study did not analyze subgroups based on movement patterns or psychological factors, which might influence how habitual posture affects motor control in specific patients.
Declared interests
The study was supported by a Saitama Prefectural University Research Grant. The authors declared no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the lack of significant contribution from sitting time or posture as evidence that these habits are harmless for spinal health. This study only tested their effect on one specific motor control task in a young, relatively healthy population. It does not rule out the impact of prolonged sitting on other outcomes like pain generation, tissue adaptation, or control during different movements.