Date of Award

Summer 2001

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biomedical Engineering

First Advisor

Harris, Gerald F.

Second Advisor

Rao, Raj

Third Advisor

Wang, Mei

Abstract

Several biomechanical factors, including hip mobility, pelvic inclination, and hamstring tightness have been reported to be associated with lower back pain. Current studies involving hamstrings length during dynamic motions such as gait are lacking for subjects with low back pain. Also, the correlation between muscle lengths and pelvic/femoral kinematics has yet to be described in a three-dimensional dynamic setting for a population experiencing low back pain. The objective of this work is to investigate changes in hamstrings length during gait in patients with low back pain compared to a normal control population, and to determine how changes in hamstrings length correlate to changes in kinematic patterns. Analysis of the association between the musculature and kinematics of the pelvic/femoral complex during daily-life, dynamic activities such as gait, may lead to improved prevention regiments and treatment options for subjects experiencing low back pain.

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