title: Neuromuscular ultrasound imaging in low back pain patients with radiculopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients suffering from chronic low back pain with associated radiculopathy (LBP-R), or sciatica, experience neuromuscular symptoms in the lower back and leg; however, research to date has focussed solely on the lower back.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To expand neuromuscular research of LBP-R patients into the lower limb, using ultrasound imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case control study comparing LBP-R patients to matched healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  LBP-R patients with disc bulge or herniation (L3/L4 to L5/S1) resulting in unilateral radiculopathy (n = 17) and healthy matched controls (n = 17) were recruited. High-resolution ultrasound imaging was used to investigate sciatic nerve structure, as well as the quality (relative magnitude of fat/fibrosis infiltration) and contraction (muscle thickening) of associated musculature in the lower back (paraspinals) and lower limb (biceps femoris, gastrocnemius, soleus).
  
  
  RESULTS
  LBP-R patients had swollen sciatic nerves (increased cross sectional area), but this was not associated with evidence of reduced lower limb muscle quality. As compared to controls, LBP-R patients demonstrated less soleus muscle thickening during submaximal contraction; however, there were no impairments in the hamstring or lower back musculature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound imaging was an effective method to detect sciatic nerve swelling in mild to moderately affected LBP-R patients. Nerve swelling was not associated with poorer muscle quality, nor consistently impaired muscle contraction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd East, Guelph, Ontario N1G2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Lydia R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd East, Guelph, Ontario N1G2W1, Canada. Electronic address: shmbrown@uoguelph.ca.
authors.forename: Stephen H M
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Low back pain; Muscle; Radiculopathy; Sciatic nerve