My thesis

[shank]

I'm so excited that I wanted to "shout" it from the rooftops... My thesis research study just got approved. I get to start my data collection now!! YAY!! I'm getting even closer to finishing this adventure.

So...... as an unofficial plea...... if any of you are or know any male powerlifters between 18-45 years old that are in AZ or will be traveling to AZ any time in the near future, please let me know. Get in touch with me if you're willing to help me out.... oh, please help me out, if you can.

[Marty Queen]

Congrats Heather!

What is the topic of your thesis?

[maxson]

For what it's worth, I'll be in Flagstaff sometime in the next 60 days. What are the prerequisites?

[shank]

Here's an abstract a faculty member and I wrote up about the research when I was trying to get approved. I know it's long and may not make sense to everyone, but it explains some of the ins and outs about the study.

Low Back Pain is the most common musculoskeletal problem in our society today. Research has identified three main causes of low back injury including a possible lack of good body mechanics, poor posture (Clemmer & Mohr, 1991), and cumulative tissue damage (Adams & Hutton, 1984; McGill & Norman, 1986). However, the research on the role of pelvic mobility and the structural movement parameters of the lumbopelvic region and associated anatomical structures involved (i.e. hamstrings) is, at best, limited. According to Vlemming, et al. (1989b), the hamstrings play a significant role in sacroiliac joint stability. Because of this relationship, the phenomena of “short” hamstrings need particular attention. Generally, short hamstrings are considered to be a pathological side effect of low back pain; however, they could be a beneficial compensatory mechanism in people with lumbopelvic instability (Gajdosik, Hatcher, & Whitsell, 1992; Gajdosik, Giuliani, & Bohannon, 1990). Because of their role, it is understandable that the relatively high hamstring tension often found in low back pain patients affects the normal lumbopelvic rhythm (Vlemming, et al., 1989b; Snijders, Vlemming, & Stoeckart, 1993a). The relationship, however, between hamstring tension and the coupled motion of the pelvis and lumbar spine is unclear (Vlemming, Stoeckart, & Snijders, 1989).

Low back pain is also a common problem seen in sports, including power lifting. Power lifting is a relatively unknown sport that consists of performing the squat, bench press, and dead lift in competition (Antom, Spirduso, & Tanaka, 2004). The repetitive nature, heavy loads, and extreme range of spinal motion involved in power lifting often provide fertile ground for both acute and chronic injuries (Reeves, Laskowski, & Smith, 1998a). Some contributing factors that have been identified are hypertrophy, overuse, poor technique, and lack of flexibility (Reeves, Laskowski, & Smith, 1998a). The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between lumbar range of motion, hamstring flexibility and pelvic mobility to self-reported low back pain or injury among power lifters.

This is a quasi-experimental, cross sectional correlational research design with the dependent variable being self-reported low back pain, and the independent variables being lumbar spinal active range of motion, hamstring length, and pelvic mobility.

Participants will include 30 recreational male power lifters who range in age from 18-45 years old, volunteer to participate, have intact neuromuscular upper extremity (3/5, intact sensation), and with no discrimination across ethnic backgrounds. Participants will be excluded from the study if they have had surgery to the spine, hip, or lower extremity within the past 2 years; trauma to the spine within last year resulting in 8 missed lifting days; injury to the spine, hip, or lower extremity within the past 6 months resulting in 8 missed lifting days; injury to the spine within last 3 months resulting in 5 missed lifting days; have a current history (diagnosis) of anklyosing spondylitis, spinal stenosis, spondylitis, spondylolisthesis, and spinal tumor; loss of lower extremity sensation; or lower extremity motor strength less than 3-/5. Strongman competitors, weightlifters, body builders, and other sports often lumped with power lifting are excluded from this study. In order to recruit subjects, requests will be posted on several power lifting forums, announcements made at power lifting competitions, and word of mouth.

Before any data collection is performed, a pilot study using 20 A.T. Still University male students and an expert physical therapist will be conducted to establish intra-rater reliability on the measurements prior to any formal data collection.

Data will be collected preferably at Arizona School of Health Sciences at A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona. In order to get the desired number of participants, alternative data collection sites may be necessary. These locations would primarily include gyms frequented by power lifters located within Arizona, Texas, and the greater southwest region. The total time for data collection is expected to be a one day collection lasting approximately 45-60 minutes per participant. All data collection will be taken prior to the participant working out. To protect confidentiality, each participant will be assigned a four digit code which will be known as the “subject code.” The battery of instruments will be matched with this code.

Prior to participation, all subjects will read and sign the informed consent form. This form describes the study, the potential risks and benefits, and states that, at any time, the subjects can withdraw from the study. The contents of the form are to be understood before further participation will be permitted. Participants will, then, complete several written instruments, including questionnaire about general demographic, training, and low back injury and treatment information questionnaire; Short Form Health Survey (SF-36); Oswestry Modified Low Back Disability Pain Questionnaire. Following this, participants will undergo a variety of measurements, including height, weight, active lumbar spinal motion (forward bending), hamstring length (straight leg raise), and pelvic mobility.

The Statistical Package for Social Sciences: Version 14.0 (SPSS) will be used for data entry and analysis. Descriptive (means, standard deviations, and correlation coefficients), Correlational, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) will be used to examine the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Finally, Regression analysis (LBP on ROM, HL, PM) will be conducted.

It is believed that this study may serve to heighten awareness regarding low back anatomical physical limitations or dysfunctions, self-report of low back pain or injury. Additionally, this study demonstrates the Physical Therapy profession’s commitment to researching lumbopelvic mobility and low back pain, as well as improving our understanding of a specific population, powerlifters.

[shank]

maxson said:

For what it's worth, I'll be in Flagstaff sometime in the next 60 days. What are the prerequisites?

Really?? ;D Hmm.... how long will you be here? And, how much freedom will you have?

You can reach me at [e-mail] if you want to see if you can participate closer to your trip time. I would so appreciate it.