Trunk Muscle Endurance In Chinese Adults

Objective:Establish reference values for isometric trunk muscle endurance tests for male and female Chinese people across different age groups.Methods:188 participants(88 males)aged between 20 and 59 years(35.9±13.3)volunteered for the study.The following tests were performed in random order,with a 20-minute rest period between each test:the Biering-Sorensen test,the plank test,and the left and right side bridge tests.For data analysis,participants were categorized into 4 different age groups:20-29;30-39;40-49;50-59 years.Those that complained of low back pain(LBP)were asked to complete the Oswestry Disability Index(ODI).The relationship between ODI,holding times on the endurance tests,and pain intensity determined by a visual analogue scale(VAS),was determined using correlation analysis.Scores from the 4 tests were summed and receiver operating characteristics(ROC)curve analysis was performed to differentiate participants with and without LBP.Results:Mean scores for the Biering-Sorensen test for the different age groups were as follows:150±45 secs(20-29 yrs),117±38 secs(30-39 yrs),113±32 secs(40-49 yrs),125±36 secs(50-59 yrs);Mean scores of plank test were 111±59 secs(20-29 yrs),84±39 secs(30-39 yrs),86±35 secs(40-49 yrs),91±51secs(50-59 yrs).The scores for the left and right side bridge tests ranged between 60 and 80 seconds.All values were similar to previous reports which were declined with age except for Biering-Sorensen test(Sorensen test)and plank test of the age group 50-59 years,which were higher in the Chinese cohort.This study showed in our cohort of people with LBP,no recorded endurance data were correlated to ODI apart from the pain intensity(r =0.813).Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis showed the area under the curve was 0.723(0.573,0.865).The optimal cut-off summed score of the four tests to differentiate between participants with and without LBP was 288,with a sensitivity of 0.75 and a specificity of 0.75.Conclusion:This study is the first to provide trunk muscle endurance reference data in Chinese people.Our data are similar to those reported in the literature for other populations except in the age group of 50-59 years.Possibly the lifestyle,body mass index or sampling resulted in such difference.The trunk muscle endurance in older Chinese adults warrants further investigation.A combined endurance times of less than 288 seconds for the four tests may be used to differentiate participants with or without LBP.