Tom A Ranger1, Flavia M Cicuttini2, Tue Secher Jensen3, Stephane Heritier2, Donna M Urquhart2. 1. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia. Electronic address: tom.ranger@monash.edu. 2. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia. 3. Research Department, Spine Centre of Southern Denmark, Hospital Lillebaelt, Middelfart, Denmark; Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics, Odense, Denmark.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: The lumbar paraspinal muscles, including the erector spinae and multifidus, play an important role in movement and control of the spine. However, our understanding of their contribution to low back pain and disability is unclear. Systematic reviews have reported conflicting evidence for an association between paraspinal muscle size and low back pain, and a paucity of data examining muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and low back disability. PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between paraspinal muscle CSA and both low back pain intensity and disability. STUDY DESIGN/ SETTING: One-year longitudinal cohort study. PATIENT SAMPLE: Participants were selected from the SpineData Registry (Denmark), which enrolls people with low back pain of 2 to 12 months duration without radiculopathy and a satisfactory response to primary intervention. OUTCOME MEASURES: Current, typical, and worst pain in the prior 2 weeks were assessed by 11-point numeric rating scales and an average pain score was calculated, and disability was measured using the 23-item Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire. CSA (cm2) of the lumbar paraspinal muscles was measured at levels L3-L5 from magnetic resonance images. METHODS: Participants completed the study questionnaires and underwent the lumbar spine magnetic resonance images at baseline and were followed up 12 months later to repeat the questionnaires. Statistical analyses involved multivariable linear regression (cross-sectional analysis) and linear mixed-models (longitudinal analysis) with adjustment for confounders. Multiple imputation was conducted to account for missing data. RESULTS: A total of 962 participants were included and 588 (65.8%) were followed up at 12-months. Multivariable analysis showed that greater paraspinal muscle CSA was associated with lower levels of disability, after adjusting for confounders (right mean CSA: baseline beta -0.16, 95% CI -0.26 to -0.06, p<.01; longitudinal beta -0.11, 95% CI -0.21 to -0.01, p=.03). This was evident at all levels, except L5 which was marginal at baseline (beta -0.08, 95% CI -0.15 to -0.001, p=.045) and not significant longitudinally (beta -0.05, 95% CI -0.12 to 0.02, p=.18). However, there were no associations between muscle CSA and pain intensity (baseline beta -0.02, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.02, p=.29; longitudinal beta -0.02, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.02, p=.34). Results were similar for both complete case and multiple imputation analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This study found an inverse relationship between lumbar paraspinal muscle CSA and low back disability, but not pain intensity. While further investigation is needed, these findings suggest that treatment strategies directed at increasing paraspinal muscle size may be effective in reducing low back disability.
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: The lumbar paraspinal muscles, including the erector spinae and multifidus, play an important role in movement and control of the spine. However, our understanding of their contribution to low back pain and disability is unclear. Systematic reviews have reported conflicting evidence for an association between paraspinal muscle size and low back pain, and a paucity of data examining muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and low back disability. PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between paraspinal muscle CSA and both low back pain intensity and disability. STUDY DESIGN/ SETTING: One-year longitudinal cohort study. PATIENT SAMPLE: Participants were selected from the SpineData Registry (Denmark), which enrolls people with low back pain of 2 to 12 months duration without radiculopathy and a satisfactory response to primary intervention. OUTCOME MEASURES: Current, typical, and worst pain in the prior 2 weeks were assessed by 11-point numeric rating scales and an average pain score was calculated, and disability was measured using the 23-item Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire. CSA (cm2) of the lumbar paraspinal muscles was measured at levels L3-L5 from magnetic resonance images. METHODS:Participants completed the study questionnaires and underwent the lumbar spine magnetic resonance images at baseline and were followed up 12 months later to repeat the questionnaires. Statistical analyses involved multivariable linear regression (cross-sectional analysis) and linear mixed-models (longitudinal analysis) with adjustment for confounders. Multiple imputation was conducted to account for missing data. RESULTS: A total of 962 participants were included and 588 (65.8%) were followed up at 12-months. Multivariable analysis showed that greater paraspinal muscle CSA was associated with lower levels of disability, after adjusting for confounders (right mean CSA: baseline beta -0.16, 95% CI -0.26 to -0.06, p<.01; longitudinal beta -0.11, 95% CI -0.21 to -0.01, p=.03). This was evident at all levels, except L5 which was marginal at baseline (beta -0.08, 95% CI -0.15 to -0.001, p=.045) and not significant longitudinally (beta -0.05, 95% CI -0.12 to 0.02, p=.18). However, there were no associations between muscle CSA and pain intensity (baseline beta -0.02, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.02, p=.29; longitudinal beta -0.02, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.02, p=.34). Results were similar for both complete case and multiple imputation analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This study found an inverse relationship between lumbar paraspinal muscle CSA and low back disability, but not pain intensity. While further investigation is needed, these findings suggest that treatment strategies directed at increasing paraspinal muscle size may be effective in reducing low back disability.
Authors: Maximilian Muellner; Erika Chiapparelli; Manuel Moser; Henryk Haffer; Yusuke Dodo; Dominik Adl Amini; John A Carrino; Ek T Tan; Jennifer Shue; Jiaqi Zhu; Andrew A Sama; Frank P Cammisa; Federico P Girardi; Alexander P Hughes Journal: Eur Spine J Date: 2022-08-19 Impact factor: 2.721
Authors: Maximilian Muellner; Henryk Haffer; Erika Chiapparelli; Yusuke Dodo; Ek T Tan; Jennifer Shue; Jiaqi Zhu; Andrew A Sama; Frank P Cammisa; Federico P Girardi; Alexander P Hughes Journal: Eur Spine J Date: 2022-08-29 Impact factor: 2.721
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