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Association between the trunk muscle function performance and the presence of vertebral fracture in older women with low bone mass

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Abstract

Background

Despite the clinical importance, it has remained unclear which changes in the trunk muscle function parameters are more associated with the presence of vertebral fracture (VF).

Aims

The aim of this study was to verify the association between the trunk muscle function performance and the presence of VF in older women with low bone mass. The secondary aim was to evaluate the correlation between trunk muscle function and both fall history and muscle mass.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was composed by 94 women over 60 years within value of T-Score lumbar spine BMD  <− 1.0 DP. Multidimensional evaluations were performed: appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) was determined by the total body DEXA; the radiographic evaluations measured the degree of thoracic kyphosis and classification of VF. The trunk muscle function parameters, such as peak torque (PT), rate of torque development (RTD) and torque steadiness (TS) were evaluated by isokinetic dynamometer. The trunk muscle endurance was evaluated by the timed loaded standing test. The adjusted multivariate logistic regression model and multivariate linear regression were performed to verify the association between the variables studied.

Results

The results showed that the trunk muscle function parameter with greater association with the presence of VF is TS extensors (OR = 1.70; p < 0.001). The other two significant muscle parameters were: RTD30 flexors (OR = 0.31; p = 0.033) and PT extensors (OR = 0.13; p = 0.009). No statistical association was found between the presence of VF and the ASMI and trunk muscle endurance. No correlation between trunk muscle function and fall history was observed. There was a weak correlation between ASMI and extensor PT (R2 = 0.21; p = 0.027) and extensor RTD30 (R2 = 0.21; p = 0.026).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that deficit in trunk muscle function has shown a strong association with the presence of VF, highlighting issues heretofore unexplored regarding the association between VF with muscle power and motor control.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation and Functional Performance, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

    Luciana Mendes Cangussu-Oliveira, Jaqueline Mello Porto, Renato Campos Freire Junior & Luana Letícia Capato

  2. Postgraduate Program in Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

    Jamilly Maciel Gomes, Marcello Henrique Nogueira-Barbosa & Francisco Jose Albuquerque de Paula

  3. Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation, Locomotor Apparatus, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

    Carlos Fernando Pereira da Silva Herrero

  4. Department of Health Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Bandeirantes Avenue, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, CEP: 14049-900, Brazil

    Daniela Cristina Carvalho de Abreu

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  1. Luciana Mendes Cangussu-Oliveira
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  2. Jaqueline Mello Porto
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  3. Renato Campos Freire Junior
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  4. Luana Letícia Capato
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  5. Jamilly Maciel Gomes
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  8. Francisco Jose Albuquerque de Paula
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  9. Daniela Cristina Carvalho de Abreu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniela Cristina Carvalho de Abreu.

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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical statement

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Statement of human and animal rights

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee for Research Involving Human Beings of the Clinics Hospital of the Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Under No. 72799917.7.0000.5440.

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All participants signed an informed consent form approved by the local ethics committee.

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Cangussu-Oliveira, L.M., Porto, J.M., Freire Junior, R.C. et al. Association between the trunk muscle function performance and the presence of vertebral fracture in older women with low bone mass. Aging Clin Exp Res 32, 1067–1076 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01296-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01296-2

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