title: Greater Resting Lumbar Extensor Myofascial Stiffness in Younger Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients Than Age-Comparable Healthy Volunteers Quantified by Myotonometry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify resting lumbar erector myofascial stiffness in younger patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and age-comparable healthy control subjects using a handheld mechanical impulse-based myotonometric device.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study of 24 patients with AS and 24 age-comparable healthy control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  University physical therapy department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with AS (men: n=19; women: n=5; total: N=24) and healthy volunteers (men: n=19; women: n=5; total: N=24) without low back pain (age range, 18-46y).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lumbar myofascial stiffness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the initial measurements, median stiffness (Nm) of the averaged right- and left-sided values was greater (P=.021) in 24 patients with AS than 24 control subjects (268.9 vs 238.9, respectively). Repeated measurements after a 10-minute prone resting period were also greater (P=.007) in patients with AS than control subjects (281.0 vs 241.4, respectively). The 48 averaged right- and left-sided values from baseline and 10-minute measurements were compared in each subject group. The patients with AS more frequently (P=.012) had stiffness values >250 Nm (35 [72.9%] vs 22 [45.8%] in control subjects).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lumbar myofascial stiffness was greater in 24 patients with AS than in the control subjects. A hypothesized biomechanical concept of increased resting lumbar myofascial stiffness in AS may be supported by this preliminary controlled study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Andonian
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL. Electronic address: amasi@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Alfonse T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Masi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL.
authors.forename: Jean C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Aldag
authors.affiliation: Bradley University, Peoria, IL.
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.affiliation: Bradley University, Peoria, IL.
authors.forename: Brandon A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Coates
authors.affiliation: Bradley University, Peoria, IL.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Emrich
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bradley University, Peoria, IL.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Bradley University, Peoria, IL.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bradley University, Peoria, IL.
authors.forename: Kalyani
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nair
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D005205:Fascia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Back muscles; Muscle tonus; Rehabilitation; Spondylitis, ankylosing