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Effects of the trunk position on muscle stiffness that reflects elongation of the lumbar erector spinae and multifidus muscles: an ultrasonic shear wave elastography study

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The present study aimed to clarify the effects of the trunk position on muscle stiffness that reflects elongation of the lumbar erector spinae and lumbar multifidus muscles using ultrasonic shear wave elastography (SWE).

Methods

The study included ten healthy men. The shear elastic modulus of the left lumbar erector spinae and lumbar multifidus muscles were evaluated using ultrasonic SWE. Measurement postures for the left lumbar erector spinae muscle were (1) prone position (Rest), (2) sitting position with the trunk flexed (Flexion), (3) the Flexion position adding right trunk lateral flexion (Flexion-Lateral Flexion), and (4) the Flexion position adding right trunk rotation (Flexion-Rotation 1). The left lumbar multifidus muscle were measured in positions (1)–(3), and (5) the Flexion position adding left trunk rotation (Flexion-Rotation 2).

Results

The shear elastic modulus of the lumbar erector spinae muscle in the Flexion-Lateral Flexion position was significantly higher than that in the Rest, Flexion, or Flexion-Rotation 1 positions. Shear elastic modulus of the lumbar multifidus muscle was similar in the Flexion, Flexion-Lateral Flexion, and Flexion-Rotation 2 positions, but significantly lower in the Rest position.

Conclusions

The results of the present study suggest that the lumbar erector spinae muscle is stretched effectively in the position adding trunk contralateral lateral flexion to flexion. The results also indicate that the lumbar multifidus muscle, which does not appear to be affected by adding trunk contralateral lateral flexion or ipsilateral rotation to flexion, is stretched effectively in the trunk flexion position.

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Abbreviations

ICC:

Intraclass correlation coefficient

LBP:

Low back pain

MA:

Moment arm

ROI:

Region of interest

SWE:

Shear wave elastography

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) 15H03043. The authors wish to thank all of the individuals who participated in the present study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-cho, Kita-ku, Niigata, 950-3198, Japan

    Mitsuhiro Masaki

  2. Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-cho, Kita-ku, Niigata, 950-3198, Japan

    Mitsuhiro Masaki

  3. Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan

    Xiang Ji, Hiroshige Tateuchi & Noriaki Ichihashi

  4. Department of Rehabilitation, Anshin Clinic, Hyogo, 4-1-4 Asahidori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 651-0095, Japan

    Taishi Yamauchi

Authors
  1. Mitsuhiro Masaki
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  2. Xiang Ji
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  3. Taishi Yamauchi
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  4. Hiroshige Tateuchi
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  5. Noriaki Ichihashi
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Contributions

All authors conceived and designed the research. MM, XJ, and TY conducted experiments. MM and XJ analyzed data. MM, HT, and NI wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mitsuhiro Masaki.

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Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest. No funding sources were used for the present study.

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Communicated by Bénédicte Schepens.

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Masaki, M., Ji, X., Yamauchi, T. et al. Effects of the trunk position on muscle stiffness that reflects elongation of the lumbar erector spinae and multifidus muscles: an ultrasonic shear wave elastography study. Eur J Appl Physiol 119, 1085–1091 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04098-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04098-6

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