Biomechanical analysis of the paravertebral muscle status using imaging methods

Abstract

Introduction: In recent decades, people’s lifestyles, physical activities, working conditions and habits have dramatically changed, leading to a major increase in the incidence of low back pain (LBP) and lumbar disc herniation (LDH), which is due to the lack of early functional diagnosis. The purpose of this observational study is to analyse paravertebral muscle imbalances. Methodology: The study included 8 participants (mean age: 28 years) with no lumbar spine pathology or symptoms. The assessment was performed during two gait cycles to analyse muscle strength balance in the right/left spinal erectors - iliolumbar muscles across three phases: heel strike (phase I), left foot stance (phase II) and left foot toe-off (phase III). The VICON Motion System was used to collect data for BoB (Biomechanics of Bodies) software to quantify muscle strength in the lumbar region. Results: The data recorded for paravertebral muscles are: phase I - 24.67 N (left), 9.34 N (right), imbalance 37%; phase II - 15.67 N (left), 4.67 N (right), imbalance 29.62%; phase III - 8.81 N (left), 6.42 N (right), imbalance 72.87%. An important left/right imbalance occurs in phase III where muscle strength has close values. Significantly different left/right values and large imbalances occur in phases I and III, which indicates major asymmetry that may cause instability. Conclusion: Segmental assessment of the behaviour of paravertebral muscles, especially spinal erectors, can provide information about the possibility of developing vertebral instability due to muscle failure and is the starting point for assessing various daily activities.