Sažetak

Uvod: Križobolja je jedan od vodećih uzroka onesposobljenosti i čest razlog korištenja zdravstvene skrbi, a uobičajeni dijagnostički postupci često nemaju dovoljnu osjetljivost za procjenu funkcionalnih poremećaja lumbalne kralježnice. Elektrokineziološka analiza (EKA) predstavlja objektivnu metodu koja objedinjuje površinsku elektromiografiju i inklinometriju te omogućuje istodobno bilježenje mišićne aktivnosti i opsega pokreta. Cilj ovog rada bio je prikazati metodološki standardiziran protokol testiranja lumbalne kralježnice primjenom EKA-e i usporediti nalaze zdrave i bolesne osobe.

Materijali i metode: Rad prikazuje dvije ispitanice: zdravu ženu u dobi od 24 godine i pacijenticu u dobi od 50 godina s akutnom križoboljom. Elektrode su postavljene na mišić erector spinae paravertebralno u razini L3, a dualni inklinometri na razini T12 i S1. Standardizirani protokol obuhvaćao je pretklon trupa i povratak u neutralni položaj, uz bilježenje maksimalne izometričke kontrakcije (MIC) radi normalizacije podataka.

Rezultati: Kod zdrave ispitanice zabilježena je uredna simetrija mišićne aktivacije, prisutan fleksijsko-relaksacijski fenomen, uredan omjer re-ekstenzija/fleksija, niska bazalna aktivnost i očuvan opseg pokreta. Kod pacijentice s akutnom križoboljom utvrđena je izražena asimetrija aktivacije, odsutnost fleksijsko-relaksacijskog fenomena, povišena bazalna aktivnost, smanjeni omjeri re-ekstenzija i fleksije te ograničen opseg pokreta.

Zaključak: Dobiveni nalazi potvrđuju da EKA omogućuje razlikovanje funkcionalnih obrazaca zdrave i bolesne osobe te predstavlja vrijedan alat u dijagnostici i praćenju bolesnika s križoboljom.

Ključne riječi: križobolja, površinska elektromiografija, elektrogoniometrija, elektrokineziološka analiza

Abstract

Introduction: Low back pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and a frequent reason for medical intervention. Conventional diagnostic procedures often lack sufficient sensitivity to assess functional disorders of the lumbar spine, which creates a need for objective and quantitative assessment methods. Electrokinesiological analysis (EKA) is an objective method that combines surface electromyography and inclinometry, enabling the simultaneous recording of muscle activity and range of motion. The aim of this paper was to present a methodologically standardized protocol for lumbar spine testing using EKA and to compare the findings of a healthy and a symptomatic subject.

Materials and methods: The paper presents two female participants: a healthy 24-year-old and a 50-year-old patient with acute low back pain. Surface electrodes were placed paravertebrally on the erector spinae muscle at the L3 level, while dual inclinometers were positioned at T12 and S1. The standardized protocol included trunk flexion and return to a neutral position in the sagittal plane, along with maximal isometric contraction (MIC) testing for data normalization. The analyzed parameters comprised baseline activity, activation symmetry, time to peak values, the flexion-relaxation phenomenon, amplitude and contraction ratios, and range of motion.

Results: In the healthy subject, symmetrical muscle activation, presence of the flexion–relaxation phenomenon, normal re-extension/flexion ratio, low baseline activity, and preserved range of motion were recorded. In contrast, the patient with acute low back pain exhibited marked asymmetry of activation, absence of the flexion–relaxation phenomenon, elevated baseline activity, reduced re-extension/flexion ratios, and restricted range of motion.

Conclusion: The findings confirm that EKA distinguishes functional patterns between healthy and symptomatic individuals. This method provides objective and reproducible data and represents a valuable tool in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with low back pain.

Key words: low back pain, surface electromyography, electrogoniometry, electrokinesiological analysis