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Heneghan N.R.1, Baker G.1, Thomas K.1, Falla D.1, Rushton A.1
1University of Birmingham, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Background: Musculoskeletal conditions are a leading cause of morbidity and disability worldwide. As a result, reducing sedentary behaviour and increasing physical activity are research and public health priorities. Although the effects of these behaviours on musculoskeletal health have not been widely investigated, neck and low back pain have long been associated with sedentary behaviour. On the contrary, little is known about the effects of these behaviours on the function of the thoracic spine. Yet, thoracic mobility is known to be required for optimal function/mobility in the adjacent spinal regions. Understanding the effect of sedentary behaviour and physical activity on thoracic spinal mobility may provide evidence to guide clinical practice and research of novel interventions for the prevention of spinal pain.
Purpose: The aim was to investigate the effect of prolonged sitting and physical activity on thoracic spine mobility.
Methods: A single blind observational study was conducted in accordance with guidelines using a convenience sample from a university population. Participants were recruited and assigned to one of three groups based on self-report of their normal behaviours
1) Sitters: those sitting for >7 hours/day,
2) Physically active: those physically active performing moderate exercise (gym classes, running, tennis etc.) for >150 minutes/week and
3) Low activity: not fulfilling either 1 or 2.
Participants thoracic mobility was assessed in the heel sit position using an Acumar digital goniometer: a validated measure of thoracic mobility (axial rotation). Descriptive and inferential analyses were used with analysis of variance (ANOVA) for between group differences and Pearson product coefficients for post hoc analysis of associations.
Results: The sample comprised a total of 92 participants: sitters n=30, physically active n=32 and low activity n=30. Groups were comparable with respect to age and BMI. Group characteristics include,
1) Sitters: sitting 7-10+hours/day, 150 minutes exercise/week (mainly running and gym)
2) Physically active: sitting 7 hours/day, 150-240+ minutes exercise/week (mainly gym, running, football, tennis, dance)
3) Low activity: sitting 2-7 hours/day, active up to 150 minutes exercise/week (various, mainly gym)
Thoracic spine mobility for the sitters, physically active and low activity group were 64.74±6.33°, 75.12±8.26°, 68.28±4.36° respectively, with results being different between all groups p 0.001.
Correlations between thoracic rotation range of motion and exercise duration (r=0.67, p 0.001), and sitting duration (r=-0.29, p 0.001) across the whole sample.
Conclusion(s): This study provides preliminary evidence of the beneficial effects of physical activity and deleterious effects of sitting on thoracic mobility. With a strong association between thoracic mobility and exercise duration and a weak negative association between thoracic mobility and sitting duration further research is required.
Implications: Examination of, and prescription of thoracic mobility exercises are an important consideration for clinicians examining patients who are sedentary. Pilot and feasibility studies are now required to investigate the effectiveness of thoracic mobility exercises and types of physical activity on spinal musculoskeletal health including neck and back pain; something that is a notable omission from the current evidence base.
Funding acknowledgements: None
Topic: Musculoskeletal: spine
Ethics approval: School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, Ethics Committee, University of Birmingham, UK
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
