Muscle Strength and Biomechanics in Low Back Pain

Low back pain represents a leading cause of disability worldwide, with muscular imbalance and altered movement patterns playing a central role. Diminished strength of the deep trunk stabilisers and hip musculature can increase spinal loading and compromise segmental control. Concurrently, changes in joint kinematics—such as reduced hip internal rotation or delayed muscle activation—further destabilise the lumbar region. Modern research emphasises the integration of muscle‐strength assessments, electromyographic profiling and motion analysis to characterise these deficits. Clinicians now recognise that targeted rehabilitation of hip abductors, extensors and deep core muscles is essential to restore functional alignment, reduce aberrant biomechanics and prevent recurrence of pain. Advances in non‐invasive measurement techniques, including ultrasound and surface electromyography, have refined understanding of muscle‐specific contributions to spinal support. This body of work underlines the global importance of combining muscle conditioning with biomechanical retraining to yield sustainable improvements in low back pain management.

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Muscle Strength and Biomechanics in Low Back Pain publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in muscle strength and biomechanics in low back pain across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Biomechanics: The study of forces and motion in biological systems, here focusing on joint movement and muscle function in the lumbar and hip regions.

Electromyography (EMG): A technique for recording electrical activity of muscles to assess activation patterns and timing.

Isometric strength: Maximal force generated by a muscle without joint movement, often measured with a handheld or fixed dynamometer.

Hip abductor: A muscle group (including gluteus medius) that moves the leg away from the midline and contributes to pelvic stability.

Range of motion (ROM): The degree through which a joint can move, measured in degrees of flexion, extension, rotation or abduction.

References

1. Association of Piriformis Thickness, Hip Muscle Strength, and Low Back Pain Patients with and without Piriformis Syndrome in Malaysia. Life (2023).
2. Hip biomechanics in patients with low back pain, what do we know? A systematic review. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (2024).
3. Effects of Different Sling Settings on Electromyographic Activities of Selected Trunk Muscles: A Preliminary Research. BioMed Research International (2020).
4. Using ultrasound to assess the thickness of the transversus abdominis in a sling exercise. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (2015).
5. Is there hip muscle weakness in adults with chronic non-specific low back pain? A cross-sectional study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (2023).