ArticleThe Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy2017
Trunk Muscle Characteristics of the Multifidi, Erector Spinae, Psoas, and Quadratus Lumborum in Older Adults With and Without Chronic Low Back Pain.
Article in The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 79 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
79 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Paraspinal muscle quality in chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of muscle atrophy and fat infiltration.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Pooled it
- Association of paraspinal muscle morphology or composition with sagittal spinopelvic alignment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2025Pooled it
- Imaging Evaluation of Fat Infiltration in Paraspinal Muscles on MRI: A Systematic Review with a Focus on Methodology.Orthopaedic surgery · 2021Pooled it
- Changes in the macroscopic morphology of hip muscles in low back pain.Journal of anatomy · 2020Pooled it
- Aquatic exercise versus standard care on paraspinal muscle morphology and function in chronic low back pain patients: a randomized controlled trial.Scientific reports · 2025Trial
- Effects of high-intensity training on fatty infiltration in paraspinal muscles in elderly males with osteosarcopenia - the randomized controlled FrOST study.BMC geriatrics · 2024Trial
- Effects of a tailored mat-Pilates exercise program for older adults on pain, functioning, and balance in women with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.Aging clinical and experimental research · 2023Trial
- Comparison between movement pattern training and strengthening on muscle volume, muscle fat, and strength in patients with hip-related groin pain: An exploratory analysis.Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society · 2022Trial
- Digital twin validation and predictive value of delta radiomics based on tabular transformer for synergistic muscle imbalance in lumbar disc degeneration.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Article
- Virtual reality for chronic primary low back pain in adults: systematic review protocol.Systematic reviews · 2026Article
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Segmentation of Soft Tissue in the Diagnosis of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Scoping Review.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Degeneration of paraspinal and gluteus medius muscles in nonspecific chronic low back pain: a quantitative MRI study.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Article
- The effect of a multimodal exercise program on paraspinal muscle morphology and clinical outcomes in chronic low back pain.Isokinetics and exercise science · 2026Article
- Effects of thoracolumbar fracture combined with muscle injury on long-term outcome and prognosis: a retrospective study.BMC surgery · 2026Article
- Effect of paraspinal muscle morphometry in degenerative and isthmic spondylolisthesis: an MRI study.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Article
- The association of lumbar paraspinal muscle size and quality with physical function, disability, and pain in adults with chronic low back pain.JOSPT open · 2026Article
- Differences in Psoas Major Muscle Properties Between Elite Athletes with and Without Chronic Low Back Pain.Sports medicine - open · 2026Article
- Paraspinal Muscle Fatty Infiltration as a Predictor of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration and Pain Severity in Chronic Low Back Pain.Pain research & management · 2026Article
- Advances in mechanical assessments of in vivo human lumbar spine tissues with noninvasive imaging techniques.npj biomedical innovations · 2026Review
- Quadratus lumborum muscle stiffness in chronic non-specific low back pain: a diagnostic accuracy study.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2025Article
19 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Study Design Cross-sectional study. Objective To determine whether there are differences in trunk muscle characteristics between older adults with and without chronic low back pain (LBP), while controlling for age, sex, and body mass index. Background Muscle support for the trunk is provided by the multifidi, erector spinae, psoas, and quadratus lumborum. Trunk muscle characteristics may be altered with aging and/or chronic LBP. To date, most trunk muscle research has been conducted among younger adults. Given age-related muscle changes, such as reduced size and increased intramuscular fat, studies are needed in older adults, including those comparing older adults with and without LBP. Methods One hundred two older adults with (n = 53) and without (n = 49) chronic LBP were included. Cross-sectional area (CSA) measurements were taken by tracing inside the fascial borders on magnetic resonance images. Pixel intensity summaries were obtained to compute muscle-to-fat indices and relative muscle CSA, that is, CSA void of fat. Right/left averages for levels L2 through L5 were determined. Mixed-design analyses of covariance were used to test for differences between groups, based on LBP presence and sex, across levels (P≤.05). Results Older adults with LBP had a greater average multifidus muscle-to-fat index (0.51 versus 0.49) and smaller average erector spinae relative muscle CSA (8.56 cm
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