Core Synergies Measured with Ultrasound in Subjects with Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain and Healthy Subjects: A Systematic Review

Overview

Journal Sensors (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Biotechnology

Date 2022 Nov 26

PMID 36433283

Authors

Maria Cervera-Cano

Luis Lopez-Gonzalez

David Valcarcel-Linares

Samuel Fernandez-Carnero

Alexander Achalandabaso-Ochoa

Veronica Andres-Sanz

Daniel Pecos-Martin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Low back pain represents the leading cause of disability since 1990. In 90% of cases, it is classified as non-specific low back pain, being chronic in 10% of subjects. Ultrasound has proven to be an effective measurement tool to observe changes in the activity and morphology of the abdominal muscles. This article reviews which core synergies are studied with ultrasound in healthy subjects and with chronic non-specific low back pain. A systematic review was conducted on studies analyzing synergies between two or more core muscles. Publications from 2005 until July 2021 were identified by performing structured searched in Pubmed/MEDLINE, PEDro and WOS. Fifteen studies were eligible for the final systematic review. A total of 56% of the studies established synergies between the core muscles and 44% between the homo and contralateral sides of the core muscles. The most studied core synergies were transversus abdominis, internal oblique and external oblique followed by the rectus abdominis and the lumbar multifidus. No studies establishing synergies with diaphragm and pelvic floor were found. Eight studies were conducted in healthy subjects, five studies in subjects with chronic non-specific low back pain compared to healthy subjects and two studies in subjects with chronic non-specific low back pain.

Citing Articles

The investigation of ultrasound to assess lateral abdominal wall activation with different types of core exercises.

Hu N, Huang F, Yu R, Lun MacAlevey N, Zeng Y, Miao P BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024; 16(1):222.

PMID: 39468573 PMC: 11514915. DOI: 10.1186/s13102-024-01009-x.

Ultrasound Evaluation of Onset Core Muscle Activity in Subjects with Non-Specific Lower Back Pain and Without Lower Back Pain: An Observational Case-Control Study.

Cervera-Cano M, Valcarcel-Linares D, Fernandez-Carnero S, Lopez-Gonzalez L, Lazaro-Navas I, Pecos-Martin D Diagnostics (Basel). 2024; 14(20).

PMID: 39451633 PMC: 11506778. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14202310.

A Comparison between Core Stability Exercises and Muscle Thickness Using Two Different Activation Maneuvers.

Tsartsapakis I, Bagioka I, Fountoukidou F, Kellis E J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2024; 9(2).

PMID: 38651428 PMC: 11036226. DOI: 10.3390/jfmk9020070.

Ultrasound imaging of core muscles activity in multiparous women with vaginal laxity: a cross-sectional study.

Hady D, Mabrouk O, Osman D Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):9063.

PMID: 38643221 PMC: 11032349. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58955-2.

Effect of Self-Myofascial Release of the Lower Back on Myofascial Gliding, Lumbar Flexibility, and Abdominal Trunk Muscle Strength: A Crossover Study.

Nakai Y, Oe K, Matsuno R, Kiyama R, Kawada M, Takeshita Y Sports (Basel). 2023; 11(8).

PMID: 37624127 PMC: 10460077. DOI: 10.3390/sports11080147.

References

Fan C, Fede C, Gaudreault N, Porzionato A, Macchi V, De Caro R . Anatomical and functional relationships between external abdominal oblique muscle and posterior layer of thoracolumbar fascia. Clin Anat. 2018; 31(7):1092-1098. DOI: 10.1002/ca.23248. View

Seyed Hoseinpoor T, Kahrizi S, Mobini B, Naji M . A comparison of abdominal muscle thickness changes after a lifting task in subjects with and without chronic low-back pain. Hum Factors. 2015; 57(2):208-17. DOI: 10.1177/0018720814544213. View

Westad C, Mork P, Vasseljen O . Location and sequence of muscle onset in deep abdominal muscles measured by different modes of ultrasound imaging. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2010; 20(5):994-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2010.01.005. View

Page M, McKenzie J, Bossuyt P, Boutron I, Hoffmann T, Mulrow C . The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. Syst Rev. 2021; 10(1):89. PMC: 8008539. DOI: 10.1186/s13643-021-01626-4. View

Moissenet F, Rose-Dulcina K, Armand S, Genevay S . A systematic review of movement and muscular activity biomarkers to discriminate non-specific chronic low back pain patients from an asymptomatic population. Sci Rep. 2021; 11(1):5850. PMC: 7955136. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84034-x. View

Ramond A, Bouton C, Richard I, Roquelaure Y, Baufreton C, Legrand E . Psychosocial risk factors for chronic low back pain in primary care--a systematic review. Fam Pract. 2010; 28(1):12-21. DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmq072. View

Hides J, Stanton W, Mendis M, Sexton M . The relationship of transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus clinical muscle tests in patients with chronic low back pain. Man Ther. 2011; 16(6):573-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.math.2011.05.007. View

Sterne J, Savovic J, Page M, Elbers R, Blencowe N, Boutron I . RoB 2: a revised tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials. BMJ. 2019; 366:l4898. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.l4898. View

Keshwani N, McLean L . Ultrasound Imaging in Postpartum Women With Diastasis Recti: Intrarater Between-Session Reliability. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2015; 45(9):713-8. DOI: 10.2519/jospt.2015.5879. View

10.

Huxel Bliven K, Anderson B . Core stability training for injury prevention. Sports Health. 2014; 5(6):514-22. PMC: 3806175. DOI: 10.1177/1941738113481200. View

11.

Yoon B, Pyeon H, Kim Y, Hong Y, Lee S . The relation between abdominal muscle asymmetry and trunk postural stability: An ultrasound imaging study. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2018; 31(6):1151-1157. DOI: 10.3233/BMR-170936. View

12.

Rankin G, Stokes M, Newham D . Abdominal muscle size and symmetry in normal subjects. Muscle Nerve. 2006; 34(3):320-6. DOI: 10.1002/mus.20589. View

13.

Macedo L, Saragiotto B, Yamato T, Costa L, Menezes Costa L, Ostelo R . Motor control exercise for acute non-specific low back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016; 2:CD012085. PMC: 8734597. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012085. View

14.

Blanchard T, Smith C, Grenier S . In a dynamic lifting task, the relationship between cross-sectional abdominal muscle thickness and the corresponding muscle activity is affected by the combined use of a weightlifting belt and the Valsalva maneuver. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2016; 28:99-103. DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2016.03.006. View

15.

Seo D, Kim J, Lee D, Kwon O, Lee S, Kim J . The relationship of abdominal muscles balance and body balance. J Phys Ther Sci. 2013; 25(7):765-7. PMC: 3820406. DOI: 10.1589/jpts.25.765. View

16.

Kiesel K, Uhl T, Underwood F, Rodd D, Nitz A . Measurement of lumbar multifidus muscle contraction with rehabilitative ultrasound imaging. Man Ther. 2006; 12(2):161-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.math.2006.06.011. View

17.

McGill S, Juker D, Kropf P . Appropriately placed surface EMG electrodes reflect deep muscle activity (psoas, quadratus lumborum, abdominal wall) in the lumbar spine. J Biomech. 1996; 29(11):1503-7. DOI: 10.1016/0021-9290(96)84547-7. View

18.

Hodges P, Richardson C . Transversus abdominis and the superficial abdominal muscles are controlled independently in a postural task. Neurosci Lett. 1999; 265(2):91-4. DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(99)00216-5. View

19.

Miura T, Yamanaka M, Ukishiro K, Tohyama H, Saito H, Samukawa M . Individuals with chronic low back pain do not modulate the level of transversus abdominis muscle contraction across different postures. Man Ther. 2014; 19(6):534-40. DOI: 10.1016/j.math.2014.05.010. View

20.

Hides J, Wilson S, Stanton W, McMahon S, Keto H, McMahon K . An MRI investigation into the function of the transversus abdominis muscle during "drawing-in" of the abdominal wall. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2006; 31(6):E175-8. DOI: 10.1097/01.brs.0000202740.86338.df. View