The Importance of Trunk Muscle Strength for Balance, Functional Performance, and Fall Prevention in Seniors: A Systematic Review

IntroductionSpinal musculoskeletal conditions, including low back and neck pain, are leading causes of disability globally. The trunk muscles, which comprise muscles in the thoracic and lumbar regions, are essential for functional activities, necessitating mobility, motor control and strength. To investigate the effectiveness of interventions directed at improving trunk muscle strength, it is essential to have valid, reliable and responsive performance-based outcome measures (PBOM). While isokinetic dynamometry is considered the gold-standard PBOM, the associated costs, size/weight and operational complexity of this equipment preclude its use in a clinical setting. There is, therefore, a need to evaluate the measurement properties of alternative accessible measures of trunk strength. This systematic review therefore aims to investigate the measurement properties of PBOM of trunk muscle strength measures appropriate for use in a clinical setting.Methods and analysisThis protocol has been designed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols. CINAHL, Web of Science, Pedro, MEDLINE, EMBASE, SPORTDiscuss will be searched systematically from the database start date up to 16 April 2020, along with reference checking and the grey literature searching. Eligibility criteria include studies investigating measurement properties of PROM for trunk muscle strength for use in a clinical setting in adults with and without spinal musculoskeletal complaints. Two independent reviewers will determine the eligibility of the studies through screening process of titles, abstract and the full text. Both reviewers will assess the risk of bias using COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement Instruments risk-of-bias tool and then extract the data from included studies. The overall quality of the included studies will be evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. A narrative synthesis will be carried out if meta-analysis is not applicable. Findings from this systematic review will aid clinicians and practitioners working in the field for example, sport, in using the most appropriate PBOM to measure trunk muscle strength.Ethics and disseminationNo research ethics application is needed as there are no patient data in this study. The results of this study will be submitted to a peer reviewed journal and presented at conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020167464.

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Relationship between trunk muscle strength and trunk muscle mass and thickness using bioelectrical impedance analysis and ultrasound imaging

Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering ◽

10.3233/bme-211218 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Ryo Miyachi ◽

Nana Koike ◽

Suzu Kodama ◽

Junya Miyazaki

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Ultrasound Imaging ◽

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Bioelectrical Impedance ◽

Impedance Analysis ◽

Trunk Muscle ◽

Trunk Muscles ◽

Trunk Muscle Strength

BACKGROUND: Although trunk muscles are involved in many important functions, evaluating trunk muscle strength is not an easy task. If trunk muscle mass and thickness could be used as indicators of trunk muscle strength, the burden of measurement would be reduced, but the relationship between trunk muscle strength and trunk muscle mass and thickness has not been clarified. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between trunk muscle strength and trunk muscle mass by bioelectrical impedance analysis and trunk muscle thickness by ultrasound imaging in healthy adults. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-one healthy university students were included in this study. Trunk flexion/extension muscle strength and trunk muscle mass by bioelectrical impedance analysis, and trunk muscle thickness by ultrasound imaging were measured. RESULTS: Both trunk flexion strength and trunk extension strength were significantly correlated with trunk muscle mass and oblique and rectus abdominis muscle thickness. Multiple regression analysis showed that trunk extension muscle strength had an independent relationship with trunk muscle mass. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that trunk muscle mass or trunk muscle thickness can be used as an alternative means for evaluating trunk muscle strength, making the evaluation of trunk muscles less burdensome.

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