Abstract
[Purpose] This study compared the hamstring length and sciatic nerve tension between a healthy group and two homogeneous lower back pain (LBP) subgroups. [Subjects] The subjects were office workers who were recruited from the local community: 16 healthy subjects without LBP, and 31 subjects with current LBP. [Methods] The active knee extension (AKE) test was conducted to evaluate hamstring muscle length. The modified straight leg raise (SLR) test was performed to test for sciatic nerve irritation in the LBP patients. The significance of differences in the AKE and modified SLR tests among the three groups was analyzed using one-way ANOVA. [Result] The hamstring muscle length in LBP subgroup with lumbar flexion rotation syndrome was significantly longer than that in the healthy group. The sciatic nerve tension in the LBP subgroup with lumbar flexion rotation syndrome was significantly greater than that in the healthy group. [Conclusion] This study showed that the hamstring muscle length and sciatic nerve tension differed with subtypes of LBP.
