Lumbar paraspinal muscles in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain and the effect of exercise: comparative and interventional study

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F65269705%3A_____%2F25%3A00083286" target="_blank" >RIV/65269705:_____/25:00083286 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/00216224:14110/25:00143410

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/rehabilitation-sciences/articles/10.3389/fresc.2025.1714052/full" target="_blank" >https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/rehabilitation-sciences/articles/10.3389/fresc.2025.1714052/full</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2025.1714052" target="_blank" >10.3389/fresc.2025.1714052</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Lumbar paraspinal muscles in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain and the effect of exercise: comparative and interventional study

Original language description

Background: Lumbar paraspinal muscles (LPM), which belong to lumbar extensor muscles, play a key role in stabilising the lumbar spine and maintaining spine health. Although chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) represents a major health problem worldwide, there is a knowledge gap regarding the function, morphology of LPM, and the effect of regular exercise on them in patients with CNLBP. The purpose of the study was to evaluate functional and quantitative MRI (qMRI) parameters of LPM in CNLBP patients, compare them to matched healthy volunteers (HV), and assess the effect of exercise therapy on these parameters in CNLBP patients.Methods: The first part of the study was cross-sectional, observational, and comparative; the second was prospective and interventional. Based on physiological parameters, 43 matched pairs of CNLBP patients and HV were formed. All participants underwent MRI of the LPM using a 6-point Dixon gradient-echo sequence to assess qMRI parameters: fat fraction, total muscle volume, and functional muscle volume (FMV). Maximal isometric lumbar extensor muscle strength (MILEMS), lumbar extensor muscle endurance (LEME), MILEMS to LPM FMV ratio, pain, and disability were assessed. Each group&apos;s parameters were compared and effect size evaluated. The total of 29 patients entered an 18-week hybrid guided daily home-based exercise programme, which was completed by 27 CNLBP patients. The study was registered, trial registration number is ISRCTN11556477.Results: CNLBP patients had significantly lower MILEMS, LEME (both P &lt; 0.001), and MILEMS to LPM FMV ratio (P = 0.006) compared to matched HV. These parameters, as well as pain and disability, improved significantly after exercise (each P &lt; 0.001). The qMRI parameters did not differ between CNLBP patients and HV, nor did they change after exercise therapy.Conclusions: The significant LPM dysfunction and poorer muscle quality in CNLBP patients were reversible with exercise. Our study does not support the use of qMRI parameters as objective and reliable biomarkers of LPM dysfunction in a cohort of CNLBP with mild clinical impairment.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

30300 - Health sciences

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences

ISSN

2673-6861

e-ISSN

2673-6861

Volume of the periodical

6

Issue of the periodical within the volume

DEC 2025

Country of publishing house

CH - SWITZERLAND

Number of pages

14

Pages from-to

1714052

UT code for WoS article

001648764000001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105026788069