Objectives: This meta-analysis aims to synthesize the available data on the effectiveness of hamstring stretching exercises in relieving pain intensity and improving function for patients with low back pain. Methods: Google Scholars, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, MEDLINE, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP were searched from inception to August 2023. We included randomized controlled trials that investigated the effectiveness of hamstring stretching exercises in patients with low back pain. The primary outcomes assessed were pain intensity, hamstring muscle flexibility, and function. Study selection, data extraction, and assessment of risk of bias were performed independently by two reviewers. Results: Our searches retrieved 344 trials, of which 14 met the inclusion criteria for this review ( n = 735 participants). The combined meta-analysis showed hamstring stretching resulted in lower pain scores (standardized mean difference = −0.72, 95% confidence interval: −1.35 to −0.09; I² = 89%, p = 0.03) in different categories of low back pain. Subgroup analysis showed that hamstring stretching led to a larger range of motion for cases of back pain with radiating pain (standardized mean difference = 2.39, 95% confidence interval: 1.76 to 3.02; I² = 0%, p < 0.001). The combined meta-analysis revealed that hamstring stretching resulted in lower Oswestry Disability Index scores in comparison to regular treatment, particularly in individuals suffering from low back pain across all subtypes (mean difference = −6.97, 95% confidence interval: −13.34 to −0.60; I² = 95%, p = 0.03). Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrates the effectiveness of hamstring stretching exercises in reducing pain intensity in various categories of low back pain and improving the straight leg raise in patients experiencing back pain with radiating pain. Additionally, it highlights the improvement in function for patients with back pain across all subtypes.

Traditional 3D motion analysis typically considers the spine as a rigid entity. Nevertheless, previous single-joint models have proven inadequate in evaluating the movement across different spinal segments in patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS). Scoliosis significantly impairs movement functions, especially during activities such as ascending and descending stairs. There is a lack of research on the patterns of stair movement specifically for patients with IS. This study aims to investigate trunk kinematics in college students with IS during stair ascent and descent tasks. A total of 56 participants, 28 with IS and 28 with healthy controls, were recruited for this case-control study. The trunk movements were analyzed using a motion analysis system that incorporated a multisegment spine model. Understanding the multi-segment spine kinematics during stair tasks can contribute to the development of effective rehabilitation programs for individuals with IS. Case-control study. Twenty-eight IS and 28 controls. Cobb angle, spinal curvature, spinal active range of motion (ROM), Kinematics. The Qualisys system (Gothenburg, Sweden) was utilized in this study with a sampling frequency of 150 Hz. It recorded the kinematics in the thoracic, lumbar, thoracic cage, and pelvis while ascending and descending stairs for both the 28 IS individuals and the 28 control participants. Additionally, clinical parameters such as the Cobb angle, curvature of the spine, spinal range of motion (ROM), and other relevant factors were concurrently assessed among the subjects. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82205306). The authors declare no conflict of interest in preparing this article. The findings of this study revealed that IS individuals exhibited reduced kyphotic curvature in the sagittal plane (p<.05) when compared to the control group. In contrast, these IS patients displayed greater coronal curvature (Cobb angle) in the frontal plane and a more substantial difference in thoracic side bending range of motion in comparison to the control group (p.05). Moreover, during the ascending stair activity, IS patients showed reduced thoracic cage flexion-extension range of motion (p<.05), while displaying increased lumbar rotation range of motion and anterior-posterior pelvic tilt range of motion (p<.05) in contrast to the control group. Notably, the kinematic analysis during the descent of stairs indicated that IS patients exhibited a larger range of motion in thoracic flexion-extension, thoracic side bending, thoracic cage side bending, thoracic rotation, and thoracic cage rotation when compared to the control group (p<.05). The results showed significant differences in trunk kinematics between the two groups during both stair ascent and descent tasks. The utilization of the "multisegment spine model" facilitates the acquisition of motion information across multiple segments of the spine in patients diagnosed with IS, effectively enhancing the assessment outcomes derived from imaging information. The three-dimensional structural deformity in the trunk affects both static and dynamic activity patterns. In different activity states, IS patients demonstrate stiff movements in certain segments while experiencing compensatory instability in others. In the future, clinical rehabilitation programs for IS should prioritize stair-related activity training.

Purpose: Utilizing ultrasonic imaging technology, this study assessed and compared the thickness and elasticity features of the abdominal and spinal back muscles in patients with idiopathic scoliosis to those of healthy individuals. The objective was to elucidate the mechanical adaptations in spinal muscles among IS patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 38 patients diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis and 33 healthy controls. Outcome measures comprised the Cobb angle, spinal curvature, muscle thickness, and muscle elasticity. Ultrasound elastography imaging was employed to assess the thickness and elasticity of the erector spinae, rectus abdominis, external oblique, and transverse abdominis muscles bilaterally at corresponding spinal levels. The objective was to document and compare the ultrasonic imaging characteristics of these muscles in individuals with idiopathic scoliosis and in the normal population. Results: The study findings indicated that idiopathic scoliosis patients had significantly lower body weight than the control group, with C7-CSVL notably greater in the idiopathic scoliosis group than in healthy individuals. Muscle thickness was substantially reduced on both the concave and convex sides at T6, T10, and L3 levels of the erector spinae, as well as in the rectus abdominis (RA) and transverse abdominis (TrA) muscles, relative to the normal cohort. Additionally, idiopathic scoliosis patients exhibited increased elasticity in the erector spinae muscle on the convex side at T6, while the elasticity of the erector spinae muscle on the concave side at L3 was significantly lower compared to healthy individuals. Conclusions: This study, utilizing ultrasound elastography imaging technology, unveiled distinct features in individuals with mild idiopathic scoliosis, including decreased muscle thickness in the erector spinae at T6, T10, and L3 levels, as well as heightened elasticity in the thoracic region and reduced elasticity in the lumbar region. The findings presented in this study provide insights for diagnostic strategies in individuals with early-stage scoliosis.