• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.121-131
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• 2019

Purpose : Lower back pain is a common disorder experienced by approximately 90-% of the population at least once in a lifetime. This study examines changes in the thicknesses and ratios of the deep and superficial fibers of the multifidus according to the lumbar stabilization exercise used for spinal stabilization. Methods : Ten different lumbar stabilization exercises were implemented by 20 healthy men in random order, and the thickness of multifidus muscle was measured ultrasound image during each exercise. Results : The surface muscle fibers of the multifidus muscles significantly increased in the exercise method in which the arms and legs were lifted (p<.05), while the deep muscle fibers of the multifidus muscles increased significantly in the exercise in which the arms and legs were not lifted (p<.05). The ratio of the thickness of surface muscle fibers to the total thickness of muscle fibers was higher in the exercise method in which the arms and legs were lifted (p<.05), while the ratio of the thickness of deep muscle fibers to the total thickness of muscle fibers was higher in the hollowing and bracing exercise method in which the arms and legs were not lifted (p<.05). Conclusion : When lumbar stabilization exercise should be performed at clinics to strengthen the deep muscle fibers of the multifidus muscles that have larger effects on the stability of spinal segments, taking the stability of the spine into consideration indicates that, hollowing and bracing exercise methods that do not that cause isotonic extension to the spine are appropriate.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.49-54
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• 2010

The reliability of the thickness measurement of the lumbar multifidus (LMD using real-time ultrasonography (US) was determined in only the superficial fiber of the lumbar multifidus (SM). However, previous studies have not examined the reliability of the deep fiber of the LM (DM). The purpose of this study was to determine the intrarater and the interrater reliability of the thickness measurements of DM using US. Eleven heathy males participated in the study. The thickness of the DM was measured with an US in the prone position. Reliability was examined using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), standard error of the measurement (SEM), and the Bland and Altman plot. ICC(3,1) was used to calculate the interrater reliability of the thickness measurement of DM using the values from both the first and second test sessions. Additionally, ICC(3,1) was used to calculate the intrarater reliability of the measurements over two days using the measurements obtained in test session 1 and lest session 2. The results of this study were as follows: 1) the ICC(3,1) value for interrater reliability was .94 in the first test session, and .93 in the second test session. 2) the ICC(3,1) values for intrarater reliability of the measurements over two days was .90 in both the first examiner and the second examiner. The interrater reliability and interrater reliability of the DM measurements, obtained via the US protocol used in this research was excellent. Therefore, we conclude that the thickness measurement of the DM obtaioned from the US protocol used in this research would be useful for clinician assessment of the thickness of the DM.