Differences in Transversus Abdominis Muscle Function between Chronic Low Back Pain Patients and Healthy Subjects at Maximum Expiration: Measurement with Real-time Ultrasonography

Kim, Kang Hoon; Cho, Sung-Hak; Goo, Bong-Oh; Baek, Il-Hun

doi:10.1589/jpts.25.861

Cited by 32Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitationMuscle activation and electromyography studiesMyofascial pain diagnosis and treatment

Differences in Transversus Abdominis Muscle Function between Chronic Low Back Pain Patients and Healthy Subjects at Maximum Expiration: Measurement with Real-time Ultrasonography

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Kim, Kang Hoon, Cho, Sung-Hak, Goo, Bong-Oh, Baek, Il-Hun·2013·Journal of Physical Therapy Science

DOI 10.1589/jpts.25.861PMC PMC3820411

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Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to compare the contraction ability at maximum expiration of the transversus abdominis (TrA) in patients with chronic low-back pain (CLBP) with that of healthy individuals. [Subjects] We studied 15 patients with CLBP and 15 healthy subjects. The subjects were informed of the study's aim and methods, and the experiment was performed after obtaining the consent of the subjects. [Methods] The thickness of the abdominal muscles was measured using a LOGIQ Book XP (GE, USA). The main outcome variable was the ratio of TrA thickness at maximum expiration versus in the relaxed position (TrA activation ratio). [Results] There was a difference between the healthy subjects and the back pain subjects with regard to the thickness of the TrA at rest and the thickness of the muscle during contraction. However, there was no difference in the rate of change in the muscle activity. [Conclusion] In conclusion, CLBP patients exhibited atrophy of the TrA muscle, but voluntary TrA muscle activation was similar to that of the normal subjects.

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Individuals with NCLBP have significant atrophy, fat infiltration, and/or decrease in activation of the TrA and LM muscles.
“Studies have reported that there is significant atrophy, fat infiltration, and/or decrease in activation of the TrA and LM muscles in individuals with NCLBP [8, 9].”
From Effect of m-health-based core stability exercise combined with self-compassion training for patients with non-specific chronic low back pain: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (2022) · cites this paper as [9]
The Results and Discussion report significantly thinner TrA muscle in patients with chronic low back pain, which the authors interpret as atrophy. The Introduction reports reduced multifidus cross-sectional area in patients with back pain, but the paper does not establish that those patients had nonspecific chronic low back pain. It does not report fat infiltration, and it finds no significant difference in voluntary TrA activation. (LLM, conf=0.85)
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Authors: Kim, K. H., Cho, S.-H., Goo, B.-O., & Baek, I.-H.
Affiliations: Catholic University of Pusan (KR)
ORCID: Cho, Sung-Hak
Venue: Journal of Physical Therapy Science
Publisher: Society of Physical Therapy Science
Published: 2013
Volume: 25
Issue: 7
Pages: 861-863
ISSN: 0915-5287 (ISSN-L)
2187-5626
DOI: 10.1589/jpts.25.861
PMC: PMC3820411
OpenAlex: W2060787377
Cited by: 32
References: 15
Citations by year: 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1
FWCI: 0.73
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: hybrid
doi.org
Licence: cc-by-nc-nd
Locations: Journal of Physical Therapy Science (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Muscle activation and electromyography studies
Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Myofascial pain diagnosis and treatment
Keywords: transversus abdominis, chronic low back pain, muscle thickness, muscle atrophy, abdominal muscle activity, real-time ultrasound

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Differences in Transversus Abdominis Muscle Function between Chronic Low Back Pain Patients and Healthy Subjects at Maximum Expiration: Measurement with Real-time Ultrasonography

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