Comparison of MRI cross-sectional area and functions of core muscles among asymptomatic individuals with and without lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration

There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Abstract

Background

Previous studies suggested that patients with symptomatic intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) of lumbar spine have reduced cross-sectional area (CSA) and functions of core muscles. However, reduced CSA and functions of core muscles have been observed not only in patients with symptomatic IDD but also in patients with other subgroups of low back pain (LBP). Thus, it is uncertain whether reduced CSA and functions of core muscles lead to IDD and LBP, or pain leads to reduced CSA and functions of core muscles in patients with symptomatic IDD. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the CSA and functions of core muscles between asymptomatic participants with and without IDD in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods

Twenty asymptomatic participants (12 men and 8 women) participated in this study. Ten participants had asymptomatic IDD at L4–5. The others were healthy controls (without IDD at all levels of lumbar spine). The CSA of core muscles was measured using MRI. Maximal isometric trunk flexor strength and side bridge strength were measured by a Smart KEMA strength sensor. Trunk flexor endurance test, side bridge endurance test and plank endurance test were used to measure core endurance. Double legs loading test was used to measure core stability. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences between two groups.

Results

There were no significant differences in core muscle functions between the two groups ( p > 0.05). Moreover, there was no significant difference in CSA between the two groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

There was no significant difference in CSA and core muscle functions between asymptomatic participants with and without IDD. These findings indicate that a degenerative or bulging disc in asymptomatic individuals has little effect on CSA and functions of core muscles, especially in young age. Therefore, the general core endurance test or strength test could not differentiate asymptomatic people with and without IDD of lumbar spine.

Trial registration number

Clinical Research information Service. KCT0004061. Registered 13 June 2019. retrospectively registered.

Related collections

Most cited references 49

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Low back pain in relation to lumbar disc degeneration.

Katariina Luoma, Hilkka Riihimäki, Ritva Luukkonen … (2000)

Cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. To study the relation of low back pain (LBP) to disc degeneration in the lumbar spine. Controversy still prevails about the relationship between disc degeneration and LBP. Classification of disc degeneration and symptoms varies, hampering comparison of study results. Subjects comprised 164 men aged 40-45 years-53 machine drivers, 51 construction carpenters, and 60 office workers. The data of different types of LBP, individual characteristics, and lifestyle factors were obtained from a questionnaire and a structured interview. Degeneration of discs L2/L3-L5/S1 (dark nucleus pulposus and posterior and anterior bulge) was assessed with MRI. An increased risk of LBP (including all types) was found in relation to all signs of disc degeneration. An increased risk of sciatic pain was found in relation to posterior bulges, but local LBP was not related to disc degeneration. The risks of LBP and sciatic pain were strongly affected by occupation. Low back pain is associated with signs of disc degeneration and sciatic pain with posterior disc bulges. Low back pain is strongly associated with occupation.

0 comments Cited 328 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

The stabilizing system of the spine. Part I. Function, dysfunction, adaptation, and enhancement.

Manohar Panjabi (1992)

Presented here is the conceptual basis for the assertion that the spinal stabilizing system consists of three subsystems. The vertebrae, discs, and ligaments constitute the passive subsystem. All muscles and tendons surrounding the spinal column that can apply forces to the spinal column constitute the active subsystem. The nerves and central nervous system comprise the neural subsystem, which determines the requirements for spinal stability by monitoring the various transducer signals, and directs the active subsystem to provide the needed stability. A dysfunction of a component of any one of the subsystems may lead to one or more of the following three possibilities: (a) an immediate response from other subsystems to successfully compensate, (b) a long-term adaptation response of one or more subsystems, and (c) an injury to one or more components of any subsystem. It is conceptualized that the first response results in normal function, the second results in normal function but with an altered spinal stabilizing system, and the third leads to overall system dysfunction, producing, for example, low back pain. In situations where additional loads or complex postures are anticipated, the neural control unit may alter the muscle recruitment strategy, with the temporary goal of enhancing the spine stability beyond the normal requirements.

0 comments Cited 277 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc

Jill Urban, Sally Roberts (2003)

The intervertebral disc is a cartilaginous structure that resembles articular cartilage in its biochemistry, but morphologically it is clearly different. It shows degenerative and ageing changes earlier than does any other connective tissue in the body. It is believed to be important clinically because there is an association of disc degeneration with back pain. Current treatments are predominantly conservative or, less commonly, surgical; in many cases there is no clear diagnosis and therapy is considered inadequate. New developments, such as genetic and biological approaches, may allow better diagnosis and treatments in the future.

0 comments Cited 276 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

All references

Author and article information

Contributors

Gyeong-tae Gwak: tytyte@naver.com

Ui-jae Hwang: hwangu33@nate.com

Sung-hoon Jung: movt_architect@daum.net

Hyun-a Kim: pthyun66@gmail.com

Jun-hee Kim: kemakjh@naver.com

Oh-yun Kwon:

ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9699-768X

82-33-760-2721 , kwonoy@yonsei.ac.kr

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): BMC Musculoskelet Disord

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): BMC Musculoskelet Disord

Title: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Publisher: BioMed Central (London )

ISSN (Electronic): 1471-2474

Publication date (Electronic): 1 December 2019

Publication date PMC-release: 1 December 2019

Publication date Collection: 2019

Volume: 20

Electronic Location Identifier: 576

Affiliations

[1 ]ISNI 0000 0004 0470 5454, GRID grid.15444.30, Department of Physical Therapy, , Graduate School, Yonsei University, ; Wonju, Republic of Korea

[2 ]ISNI 0000 0004 0470 5454, GRID grid.15444.30, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Laboratory of Kinetic Ergocise Based on Movement Analysis, , Yonsei University, ; Wonju, Republic of Korea

Author information

Oh-yun Kwon http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9699-768X

Article

Publisher ID: 2960

DOI: 10.1186/s12891-019-2960-y

PMC ID: 6886205

PubMed ID: 31787092

SO-VID: 3a89a2eb-9766-473d-b0a5-58e997e78bd3

License:

Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver ( http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

History

Date received : 29 June 2019

Date accepted : 20 November 2019

Custom metadata

ScienceOpen disciplines: Orthopedics

Keywords: asymptomatic diseases,intervertebral disc degeneration,mri,cross-sectional area,muscle functions,core muscles

Data availability:

ScienceOpen disciplines: Orthopedics

Keywords: asymptomatic diseases, intervertebral disc degeneration, mri, cross-sectional area, muscle functions, core muscles

Comparison of MRI cross-sectional area and functions of core muscles among asymptomatic individuals with and without lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration

Read this article at

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration number

Related collections

Orthopedics

Most cited references 49

Low back pain in relation to lumbar disc degeneration.

The stabilizing system of the spine. Part I. Function, dysfunction, adaptation, and enhancement.

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc

Author and article information

Contributors

Journal

Affiliations

Author information

Article

History

Categories

Custom metadata

Comments

Comment on this article

Similar content 116

Cited by 6

Most referenced authors 1,485