Comparison of lower limb, pelvic, lumbar and trunk muscle activity during stance phase of gait cycle in sacroiliac joint pain and healthy subjects

Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is one of the most important elements in normal musculoskeletal function during gait cycle and serve as a shock absorber during heel strike and load transfer from lower limbs to trunk. Its stabilizing is the product of osseous، ligamentus and muscular elements which muscle activity of these muscles (Gluteus Maximus، Biceps Femoris، Multifidus، Erector Spinea، and Latissimus Dorsi) is important in load transfer through SIJ. It seems that the function of the given muscles in sacroiliac joint pain subjects is interrupted. So، the aim of the present study is to compare muscle activity during different events of stance phase of gait cycle during preferred and slow speed between sacroiliac joint pain and healthy subjects. Methods and Materials: Thirteen SIJ pain subjects (12 females، 1 male) and thirteen healthy subjects (11 females، 2 male) participated in this study. Muscle activity based on RMS from selected muscles was recorded during different events of stance phase of gait either preferred or slow speed by EMG Data-link Biometrics and normalized according to muscle activity during a 500 ms period in rest position before starting walking called Baseline Correction. Significant statistical differences were found between two groups in muscle activity based RMS during different events of stance (p=0/006)، but there was no significant difference in effect of speed on RMS between two groups (p=0/37). Significant Statistical differences were also seen between selected muscles in each group separately during slow speed of walking (p=0/003) but no significant statistical difference during preferred speed in SIJ pain group (p=0/14). SIJ subjects have showed increased levels of muscle activity during different events of stance phase of gait with preferred and slow speeds. These increased levels can be interpreted as a mechanism to control trunk movements effectively، provide sufficient support and transfer load to lumbar area efficiently.