title: The Reliability of Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging of the Cross-sectional Area of the Lumbar Multifidus Muscles in the PNF Pattern.
abstract: [Purpose] The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) in obtaining the cross-sectional area of the lumbar multifidus muscles in patients with chronic low back pain (LBP) at rest and during contractions facilitated by PNF patterns by ultrasound imaging. [Subjects] The subjects were 15 (4 males, 11 females) who had chronic LBP on one side for more than 6 months. [Methods] Subjects were asked to lie on their sides with the painful side facing up. They then rested or received a front or backward lower pelvic pattern of PNF treatment. The cross-sectional area of the multifidus muscle was measured twice using ultrasonography. [Results] The intraclass correlation coefficient of the cross-sectional area of the multifidus muscle measured by ultrasonography was excellent. [Conclusion] Our results show that measurement with ultrasound imaging can be used in the treatment of LBP as an objective assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, International University of Health and Welfare, Japan ; Department of Physical Therapy, China Rehabilitation Research Center, China ; School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Capital Medical University, China.
authors.forename: Qiuchen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, International University of Health and Welfare, Japan ; Department of Physical Therapy, China Rehabilitation Research Center, China ; School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Capital Medical University, China.
authors.forename: Desheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, International University of Health and Welfare, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, China Rehabilitation Research Center, China ; School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Capital Medical University, China.
authors.forename: Anming
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Himeji Dokkyo University, Japan.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, International University of Health and Welfare, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maruyama
keywords: Low back pain; Multifidus muscle; Ultrasound imaging