» Articles » PMID: 17174584

Spinal Muscle Evaluation in Healthy Individuals and Low-back-pain Patients: a Literature Review

Overview
Specialty Rheumatology
Date 2006 Dec 19
PMID 17174584
Citations 43
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

This article reviews available techniques for spinal muscle investigation, as well as data on spinal muscles in healthy individuals and in patients with low back pain. In patients with chronic low back pain, medical imaging studies show paraspinal muscle wasting with reductions in cross-sectional surface area and fiber density. In healthy individuals, the paraspinal muscles contain a high proportion of slow-twitch fibers (Type I), reflecting their role in maintaining posture. The proportion of Type I fibers is higher in females, leading to better adaptation to aerobic exertion compared to males. Abnormalities seen in paraspinal muscles from patients with chronic low back pain include marked Type II fiber atrophy, conversion of Type I to Type II fibers, and an increased number of nonspecific abnormalities. Limited data are available from magnetic resonance spectroscopy used to investigate muscle metabolism and from near infrared spectroscopy used to measure oxygen uptake by the paraspinal muscles. Surface electromyography in patients with chronic low back pain shows increased paraspinal muscle fatigability, often with abolition of the flexion-relaxation phenomenon.

Citing Articles

The influence of workload on muscle fatigue, tissue properties, and postural stability in older and younger workers.

Ducas J, Mathieu J, Drouin M, Sobczak S, Abboud J, Descarreaux M PLoS One. 2025; 20(1):e0316678.

PMID: 39752383 PMC: 11698325. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0316678.


Comparison of Measurements for Recording Postural Control in Standing and Seated Position in Healthy Individuals.

Floessel P, Hammerschmidt F, Koltermann J, Foerster J, Beck H, Disch A J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2024; 9(4).

PMID: 39449472 PMC: 11503263. DOI: 10.3390/jfmk9040178.


Non-contrast MRI of micro-vascularity of the feet and toes.

Bae W, Malis V, Vucevic D, Yamamoto A, Nakamura K, Lane J Jpn J Radiol. 2024; 42(7):785-797.

PMID: 38536557 PMC: 11512541. DOI: 10.1007/s11604-024-01553-z.


Understanding the Biering-Sørensen test: Contributors to extensor endurance in young adults with and without a history of low back pain.

Shaw J, Jacobs J, van Dillen L, Beneck G, Smith J J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2024; 74:102854.

PMID: 38171249 PMC: 10842485. DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2023.102854.


The Relationship Between Low Back Pain and Sagittal Spinal Alignment and Back Muscle Mass in Korean Fishery Workers.

Kook M, Kim I, Seo J, Kim H, Nam H, Han N Ann Rehabil Med. 2023; 47(6):459-467.

PMID: 37990502 PMC: 10767211. DOI: 10.5535/arm.23075.