ISSLS PRIZE IN CLINICAL SCIENCE 2019: clinical importance of trunk muscle mass for low back pain, spinal balance, and quality of life—a multicenter cross-sectional study

Abstract

Study design

A multicenter cross-sectional study.

Objectives

To clarify the relationship of trunk muscle mass with low back pain, spinal sagittal balance, and quality of life.

Summary of background data

Few reports have investigated the relationship of trunk muscle mass with lumbar spine function and spinal balance, and the clinical significance of trunk muscle mass remains unclear.

Methods

Patients attending spinal outpatient clinics at 10 different medical institutions were enrolled in this study. Patient demographics, trunk muscle mass and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), body mass index (BMI), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analog scale (VAS) for low back pain, sagittal vertical axis (SVA), and EuroQol 5 Dimension (EQ5D) score were investigated. Multivariate nonlinear regression analysis was used to investigate the association of trunk muscle mass with the ODI, VAS score, SVA, and EQ5D score.

Results

Of 2551 eligible patients, 1738 (mean age 70.2 ± 11.0 years; 781 men and 957 women) were enrolled. Trunk muscle mass was significantly correlated with the ODI, VAS score, SVA, and EQ5D score (P < 0.001) when adjusted for age, sex, BMI, ASM, CCI, and history of lumbar surgery. Patient deterioration was associated with a decrease in trunk muscle mass, and the deterioration accelerated from approximately 23 kg.

Conclusions

Trunk muscle mass was significantly associated with the ODI, VAS score, SVA, and EQ5D score. Trunk muscle mass may assume an important role to elucidate and treat lumbar spinal dysfunction and spinal imbalance.

Graphical abstract

These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

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