title: Stiffness of resting lumbar myofascia in healthy young subjects quantified using a handheld myotonometer and concurrently with surface electromyography monitoring.
abstract: This study aimed to non-invasively quantify passive stiffness of superficial myofascia at a lower lumbar (L3-L4) anatomical level in young healthy male and female subjects and investigate its possible morphological variation. Resting prone lumbar myofascial measurements were quantified using MyotonPro(®) and statistically analyzed in 20 young healthy individuals over 3-weekly intervals, concurrently with surface electromyography (sEMG). Averaged mean ± SE stiffness (Newton/meter) over three weeks was significantly (p < 0.001) greater in males (247.8 ± 11.3) than females (208.4 ± 11.3), on the right (237.7 ± 12.8) than left sides (218.5 ± 12.3), at 10-min (231.4 ± 9.1) than initial baseline (224.8 ± 9.1) values. A polymorphism of stiffness values in 10 male and 10 female subjects was suggested by box plot analyses of the 3 weekly measurements and greater inter-individual than intra-individual variances. Greater knowledge of lumbar myofascial stiffness can improve understanding of their contributions in health and chronic low back disorders.
authors.affiliation: Mechanical Engineering, Bradley University, Peoria, IL 61625, USA. Electronic address: knair@bradley.edu.
authors.forename: Kalyani
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL 61656, USA. Electronic address: amasi@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Alfonse T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Masi
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL 61656, USA. Electronic address: bandon2@uicomp.uic.edu.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Andonian
authors.affiliation: Mechanical Engineering, Bradley University, Peoria, IL 61625, USA. Electronic address: abarry@mail.bradley.edu.
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.affiliation: Mechanical Engineering, Bradley University, Peoria, IL 61625, USA. Electronic address: bcoates@mail.bradley.edu.
authors.forename: Brandon A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Coates
authors.affiliation: Mechanical Engineering, Bradley University, Peoria, IL 61625, USA. Electronic address: jpdougherty@mail.bradley.edu.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.affiliation: Mechanical Engineering, Bradley University, Peoria, IL 61625, USA. Electronic address: eschaefer@mail.bradley.edu.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.affiliation: Mechanical Engineering, Bradley University, Peoria, IL 61625, USA. Electronic address: jhenderson@bradley.edu.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Bradley University, Peoria, IL 61625, USA. Electronic address: jpkelly@bradley.edu.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016684:Prone Position / Q000502:physiology*; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Biomechanics; Lumbar; Myofascial stiffness; MyotonPro; Passive property; Surface electromyography