J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2007 Feb;31(1):1-6.

Quantitative Correlations of Trunk Muscles in Young and Middle-aged Men with Chronic Low Back Pain by Magnetic Resonance Imaging

• Park SI
• Lee WY
• Kim HS
• Lee JH
• Lee KT
• Yun JS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the correlation of the cross-sectional areas (CSA) of paraspinal (multifidus and erector spinae) and psoas muscles and chronic low back pain by MRI (magnetic resonance image) in young and middle-aged patients. METHOD: Medical records of eighty subjects (50 young-aged and 30 middle-aged men) with low back pain were retrospectively reviewed. Their MR images were scanned and analysed by means of pixel to find the lumbar paraspinal and psoas muscle CSA and evaluated the correlation of the types of disc and age.
RESULTS
There were significant increases of body mass index (BMI) in middle-aged patients compared with young- aged, and no difference in the disc types. Paraspinal muscle atrophy was increased in young patients with HIVD (herniated intervertebral disc), but not in middle-aged patients although they had HIVD.
CONCLUSION
The paraspinal and psoas muscle atrophy could be assessed by MRI of lumbar spine in young patient with chronic low back pain. It may helpful for further evaluation and planning the treatment of low back pain.

Keyword

Paraspinal muscle; Psoas muscle; Muscle cross-sectional area; Low back pain; Body mass index (BMI)

MeSH Terms

Atrophy
Body Mass Index
Humans
Low Back Pain*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Male
Medical Records
Muscles*
Paraspinal Muscles
Psoas Muscles
Retrospective Studies
Spine