Exploring the effect of pelvic belt configurations upon athletic lumbopelvic pain.

BACKGROUND

Lumbopelvic injuries are often refractory to treatment and can limit return to sport. Research shows that 50 Newtons (N) of force applied transversely to the pelvis improves lumbopelvic stability and pain. This study applies transverse and diagonal forces to the pelvis in athletes with lumbopelvic pain, and investigates effects on pain and function.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of transverse and diagonal compressive forces applied to the pelvis of athletes with lumbopelvic pain

STUDY

DESIGN

A randomized, repeated measures design using 20 athletes with lumbopelvic pain.

METHODS

No belt and four pelvic belt configurations (50 N force) were tested. Outcome measures were: resting pain, pain on active straight leg raise (ASLR), resisted hip adduction force and pain on 1-metre broad jump. Force on the adduction test was determined via load cell.

RESULTS

Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Squeeze test showed significant effect of condition F (4, 76) = 2.7, P < 0.05. On ASLR ipsilateral to the side of pain, pain decreased across conditions (F (4, 76) = 2.5 P = 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Results suggest application of diagonal forces towards the site of pain may have additional benefits in improving pain and function. Such information may inform the development of an orthosis. Clinical relevance The results may be used clinically to determine the effectiveness of different belt placements (with belts or straps) in managing athletic lumbopelvic pain. The results offer an alternative to the application of transverse belts, and may inform new approaches in the development of orthotics.