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The anatomical connection between latissimus dorsi (LD), thoracolumbar fascia, and contralateral gluteus maximus (GM) enables myofascial force transmission (MFT) between the shoulder, trunk, and hip. This study investigates whether regular sports practice, specifically running, influences this MFT pathway. Given the potential changes in tissue stiffness from sports practice and the importance of this property for MFT, we hypothesize that runners may exhibit greater MFT between the LD and GM, resulting in altered passive properties of the lumbar and hip regions during LD contraction. This study aimed to investigate whether runners present a higher modification in lumbar stiffness and passive properties of the contralateral hip due to LD contraction than sedentary individuals. The lumbar stiffness, hip resting position, passive hip torque, and stiffness of fifty-four individuals were assessed using an indentometer and an isokinetic dynamometer, respectively, in two conditions: LD relaxed, and LD contracted. The main and interaction effects were assessed using a two-way ANOVA. The LD contraction increased lumbar stiffness (p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.50), externally rotated the hip resting position and increased the passive hip torque and stiffness (p < 0.05; ηp2 > 0.1) in both groups. In addition, runners presented higher lumbar stiffness compared to sedentary in the LD contracted condition (p = 0.017, ESd = 0.54). Although runners exhibited increased lumbar stiffness during LD contraction, the MFT from the shoulder to the hip joint occurred similarly in both groups.

The thoracolumbar fascia is essential in lumbar stabilization and is considered a path of transmitting myofascial force. This study investigates whether there is a difference in the myofascial force transmission between latissimus dorsi and contralateral gluteus maximus in individuals with and without chronic low back pain (CLBP). Forty-eight individuals were divided into CLBP and control groups. Outcome variables were evaluated in two experimental conditions: relaxed and contracted latissimus dorsi. Lumbar stiffness was assessed using a non-invasive digital indentometer, and passive properties of the contralateral hip (resting position, torque and stiffness) were evaluated using an isokinetic dynamometer. Trunk and hip muscle activation was monitored with electromyography. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. Latissimus dorsi contraction increased lumbar stiffness in both groups (p < 0.001) compared to the relaxed condition. However, only the control group showed a change in the hip resting position toward greater lateral rotation and an increase in passive hip torque with latissimus dorsi contraction compared to the relaxed condition (p < 0.001). Additionally, latissimus dorsi contraction led to a small and clinically non-relevant increase in passive hip stiffness (below the standard error of measurement) in both groups when compared to the relaxed condition. The results demonstrated that the myofascial force transmission between latissimus dorsi and contralateral gluteus maximus is reduced in individuals with CLBP, since the latissimus dorsi contraction changed the passive properties only in the adjacent tissues (lumbar region) but not in tissues more distant from the origin of the traction.