scholarly journals Comparison of Changes in the Transversus Abdominis and Neighboring Fascia in Subjects With and Without a History of Low Back Pain Using Ultrasound Imaging

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Murakami ◽  
Keishoku Sakuraba ◽  
Koichi Nagai
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 553-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Sutherlin ◽  
Matthew Gage ◽  
L. Colby Mangum ◽  
Jay Hertel ◽  
Shawn Russell ◽  
...  

Context:  Injury-prediction models have identified trunk muscle function as an identifiable factor for future injury. A history of low back pain (HxLBP) may also place athletes at increased risk for future low back pain. Reduced muscle thickness of the lumbar multifidus (LM) and transversus abdominis (TrA) has been reported among populations with clinical low back pain via ultrasound imaging in multiple positions. However, the roles of the LM and TrA in a more functional cohort and for injury prediction are still unknown. Objectives:  To (1) assess the reliability of LM and TrA ultrasound measures, (2) compare changes in muscle thickness across positions between persons reporting or not reporting HxLBP, and (3) determine the ability to distinguish between groups. Design:  Cross-sectional study. Setting:  Research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants:  Participants were 34 people who did not report HxLBP (age = 22 ± 7 years, body mass index = 23.7 ± 2.7) and 25 people who reported HxLBP (age = 25 ± 10 years, body mass index = 24.0 ± 3.2). Main Outcome Measure(s):  Muscle thickness and changes in muscle thickness of the LM and TrA as shown on ultrasound imaging. Results:  Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.641 to 0.943 for all thickness measures and from 0 to 0.693 for all averaged thickness modulations bilaterally. Participants who reported HxLBP had voluntarily reduced TrA thickness modulations compared with those not reporting HxLBP (P = .03), and the testing position influenced TrA thickness modulations (P < .01). No differences were observed for LM thickness modulations between groups or positions (P > .05). A tabletop cutoff value of 1.32 had a sensitivity of 0.640 and a specificity of 0.706, whereas a seated cutoff value of 1.18 had a sensitivity of 0.600 and a specificity of 0.647. Conclusions:  In participants reporting HxLBP, TrA thickness modulations were lower and both tabletop and seated thickness modulations were able to distinguish reported HxLBP status. These findings suggest that TrA muscle function may be altered by HxLBP.


Ultrasound ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol A Flavell ◽  
Laurence G Marshman ◽  
Susan J Gordon

Real-time ultrasound imaging (US) to measure abdominal muscle dimensions has aided low back pain rehabilitation and research. Notwithstanding, ultrasound imaging measurement of transversus abdominis muscle activation in chronic low back pain populations has been characterized by variable and generally suboptimal intra-observer reliability. Methodological deficiencies of ‘freehand’ ultrasound imaging are uncontrolled probe–skin pressure, inclination and roll of the probe. Despite previous attempts to standardize these parameters, intra-observer reliability in chronic low back pain was poor to moderate (0.32–0.62). Therefore, a standardized method that controls and records probe force, inclination and roll during ultrasound imaging may optimize measurement reliability in chronic low back pain. This pilot study investigated utility, standardization and intra-observer reliability of ultrasound imaging transversus abdominis thickness measurement in chronic low back pain patients (n = 17). Transversus abdominis imaging over two separate measurement sessions was conducted using a novel method to standardize probe parameters. Resting and contracted transversus abdominis thickness, and transversus abdominis activation measurements were obtained from duplicate paired images (n = 68). Intra-class correlation coefficients were reported with 95% confidence intervals. Transversus abdominis thickness at rest (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.97 confidence interval: 0.93, 0.99), when contracted (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.99 confidence interval: 0.97, 0.99) and transversus abdominis activation (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.93 confidence interval: 0.81, 0.97) measurements were highly reliable. Ultrasound imaging of transversus abdominis using the novel standardized ultrasound imaging method produced highly reliable intra-observer transversus abdominis measurements, superior to ‘freehand’ ultrasound imaging, despite the physical limitations typically associated with a chronic low back pain population. Unique standardizing ranges for ‘probe force device’ probe parameters were obtained. This novel standardized ultrasound imaging method may optimize transversus abdominis activation assessment in chronic low back pain and other populations, aiding future research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 1206-1212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Martinez-Valdes ◽  
Fiona Wilson ◽  
Neil Fleming ◽  
Sarah-Jane McDonnell ◽  
Alex Horgan ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Burger ◽  
H. Myezwa ◽  
V. Naidoo ◽  
B. Olivier ◽  
A. Rothberg

Background: Physiotherapy students are prone to low back pain (LBP) due to studying and their active involvement in clinical treatment of patients. As a result of pathology, muscle activity is influenced, affecting optimal function of the spine. Method: Physiotherapy students enrolled for 2010 at the University of the Witwatersrand participated in a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire and physical assessment were completed. Results: The study revealed that the lifetime LBP prevalence was 36% among physiotherapy students. Associations with LBP were hours of practical exposure, posterior-anterior mobilisations on L4 (p=0.003) and L5 (p≤0.001) centrally and unilaterally, left lumbar multifidus (LM) cross-sectional area (p=0.02), right obliquus internusabdominis (OI) (p=0.02) and right transversus abdominis (TrA) thickness at rest (p=0.02), as well as the pull of the TrA during contraction on the left (p=0.03). Discussion: Hours of practical exposure may play a role in lumbar pathology. Due to pathology, muscle imbalances of LM, TrA and OI affect the stability of the spine which may lead to recurrences. Conclusion: Practical exposure as well as LM, TrA and OI muscle imbalances were associated with LBP in physiotherapy students. Awareness of the factors associated with LBP while studying at an undergraduate level may lead to better prevention of LBP.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 400-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Whitney Williams ◽  
Noelle M. Selkow

Context: Decreased hamstring flexibility can lead to a plethora of musculoskeletal injuries, including low back pain, hamstring strains, and patellofemoral pain. Lack of flexibility may be the result of myofascial adhesions. The fascia connected to the hamstrings is part of the superficial back line that runs from the cranium to the plantar aspect of the foot. Any disruption along this chain may limit the flexibility of the hamstring. Objective: To investigate if self-myofascial release (SMR) of the plantar surface of the foot in addition to the hamstring group was more effective at improving the flexibility of the hamstrings when compared with either intervention alone. Design: Cross-over study. Setting: Athletic training facility. Participants: Fifteen college students (5 males and 10 females; age: 20.9 [1.4] y, height: 173.1 [10.3] cm, mass: 80.0 [24.9] kg) who were not older than 30, with no history of low back pain or injury within the past 6 months, no history of leg pain or injury within the past 6 months, no current signs or symptoms of cervical or lumbar radicular pain, no current complaint of numbness or tingling in the lower-extremity, and no history of surgery in the lower-extremity or legs. Interventions: Each participant received each intervention separated by at least 96 hours in a randomized order: hamstring foam rolling, lacrosse ball on the plantar surface of the foot, and a combination of both. Main Outcome Measures: The sit-and-reach test evaluated hamstring flexibility of each participant before and immediately after each intervention. Results: There were no significant differences found among the SMR techniques on sit-and-reach distance (F2,41 = 2.7, P = .08, ). However, at least 20% of participants in each intervention improved sit-and-reach distance by 2.5 cm. Conclusions: SMR may improve sit-and-reach distance, but one technique of SMR does not seem to be superior to another.


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