MONTREAL, April 20 (UPI) -- Most adults will suffer from low-back pain in their lifetime, but Canadian scientists say they could benefit from using an exercise machine.
Christian Lariviwere, a professor at the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauve en sante et en securite du travail, conducted the study with Universite de Montreal researchers Bertrand Arsenault, Rubens A. Da Silva, Sylvie Nadeau, Andre Plamondon and Roger Vadeboncoeur.
The researchers had study subjects ages18-65 complete exercises, while being attached to electromyography sensors used to measure the level of activity and fatigue in various muscles during exercise.
The exercise machine was designed specifically for back muscles. Test subjects could also use the machine in a semi-sitting position.
The study showed using this machine was beneficial, the researchers said.
"If you want to bring about physiological change to help the development and endurance of back muscles, you must focus your training on those specific muscles and not other muscular groups such as hip extensors," Lariviere said in a statement. "Thanks to this technique, we can target tired muscles which aren't yet showing a decrease in strength."
