Researchers compared muscle activation patterns of 12 back pain patients and 13 healthy control subjects.
Compared to the pain-free controls, subjects with chronic back pain displayed delayed hamstring activation during overhead reaching.
Conclusions
The hamstring muscles play an important role in pelvic stabilization during functional tasks, and compromised stability could lead to increased spinal loading.
References
Massé-Alarie, H., Beaulieu, L. D., Preuss, R., & Schneider, C. (2015). Task-specificity of bilateral anticipatory activation of the deep abdominal muscles in healthy and chronic low back pain populations. Gait & posture, 41(2), 440-447.