Differences in the elastic modulus of the lumbar muscles between female athletes with and without low back pain

Takayuki Miyamori; Taiki Saito; Masashi Aoyagi; Shojiro Nozu; Yuki Masui; Yoshihiko Ishihara; Yu Shimasaki; Masafumi Yoshimura

doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2023.105968

Differences in the elastic modulus of the lumbar muscles between female athletes with and without low back pain

Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2023 May:105:105968. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2023.105968. Epub 2023 Apr 18.

Authors

Takayuki Miyamori¹, Taiki Saito², Masashi Aoyagi³, Shojiro Nozu⁴, Yuki Masui⁵, Yoshihiko Ishihara⁶, Yu Shimasaki⁷, Masafumi Yoshimura⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Science, Juntendo University, 2-1-1, Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan; Graduate school of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, 1-1, Hirakagakuendai Inzai-shi, Chiba 270-1695, Japan; Graduate school of Health Science, Juntendo University, 2-1-1, Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan. Electronic address: t.miyamori.hi@juntendo.ac.jp.
² Rehabilitation Center, Oyumino Central Hospital, 6-49-9, Oyuminominami Midori-ku, Chiba 266-0033, Japan.
³ Juntendo Administration for Sports, Health and Medical Sciences, Juntendo University, 2-1-1, Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
⁴ Graduate school of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, 1-1, Hirakagakuendai Inzai-shi, Chiba 270-1695, Japan; Department of Health and Sports Science, Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, 1-1, Hirakagakuendai Inzai-shi, Chiba 270-1695, Japan.
⁵ Graduate school of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, 1-1, Hirakagakuendai Inzai-shi, Chiba 270-1695, Japan.
⁶ School of Science and Technology for Future Life, Tokyo Denki University, 5 Asahicho Senju Adachi-ku, Tokyo 120-8551, Japan.
⁷ Department of Health and Sports Science, Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, 1-1, Hirakagakuendai Inzai-shi, Chiba 270-1695, Japan.

PMID: 37116229
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2023.105968

Abstract

Background: Low back pain is the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder affecting performance and sports participation among athletes and is more prevalent among female athletes. Evaluating the stiffness of the lumbar muscles is important for understanding the pathophysiology of low back pain. Therefore, this study examined the differences in stiffness of the lumbar multifidus and erector spinae muscles between female university athletes with and without low back pain.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The study was conducted at a single centre, the university research laboratory. Twenty female university athletes with low back pain or a history of low back pain and 20 without low back pain participated in this study. The shear elastic moduli of the multifidus and erector spinae muscles were evaluated in the prone (to relax the muscles) and sitting with 35° of trunk flexion (to stretch the muscles) positions using shear wave ultrasound imaging equipment.

Findings: The low back pain group showed significantly greater shear elastic modulus in the multifidus in both prone and sitting positions than the non-low back pain group. There were no differences in the erector spinae muscle between the two groups at either position.

Interpretation: These results provide new insights into the microscopic characteristics of low back pain pathophysiology in young female athletes. Stiffness assessment using shear wave elastography will help provide a specific treatment strategy for female athletes with low back pain or a history of low back pain.

Keywords: Back muscles; Elastic modulus; Low back pain; Ultrasonography.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Athletes
Cross-Sectional Studies
Elastic Modulus
Female
Humans
Low Back Pain*
Paraspinal Muscles