Purpose: This study was to compare the effect of center of pressure(COP) displacement and muscle activation onset during expected and unexpected sudden limb loading in subjects with low back pain and healthy control subjects. Most studies of COP displacement and muscle activation onset on postural task focused on sudden trunk loading or gross limb movements. Investigation of the COP displacement and muscle activation onset during expected and unexpected sudden upper limb loading deserves similar attention. Methods: For this study, 14 subjects with low back pain and 12 healthy control subjects are participated. Force plate and surface EMG measures were used to determine COP displacement and muscle activation onset under expected and unexpected sudden upper limb loading. Results: COP displacement and muscle activation onset under unexpected sudden upper limb loading were similar in subjects with low back pain and healthy control subjects. However, COP displacement and muscle activation onset under expected sudden upper limb loading were shortened in healthy control subject but not among the subjects with low back pain. Conclusion: The results provide evidence for impaired feed-forward control in subjects with low back pain.