title: Effects of Low-Load Motor Control Exercises and a High-Load Lifting Exercise on Lumbar Multifidus Thickness: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the effects of low-load motor control (LMC) exercises and a high-load lifting (HLL) exercise, on lumbar multifidus (LM) thickness on either side of the spine and whether the effects were affected by pain intensity or change in pain intensity.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  There is evidence that patients with low back pain (LBP) may have a decreased size of the LM muscles with an asymmetry between sides in the lower back. It has also been shown that LMC training can affect this asymmetry. It is, however, not known whether a high-load exercise has the same effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five participants diagnosed with nociceptive mechanical LBP were included and randomized into LMC exercises or a HLL exercise, the deadlift. The LM thickness was measured using rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI), at baseline and after a 2-month training period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences between interventions regarding effect on LM muscle thickness. However, the analysis showed a significant effect for asymmetry. The thickness of the LM muscle on the small side increased significantly compared with the large side in both intervention groups, without influence of pain at baseline, or change in pain intensity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At baseline, there was a difference in thickness of the LM muscles between sides. It seems that exercises focusing on spinal alignment may increase the thickness of the LM muscles on the small side, irrespective of exercise load. The increase in LM thickness does not appear to be mediated by either current pain intensity or the magnitude of change in pain intensity.
  
  
  METHODS
  2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå University, Sweden.|Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Umeå University, Sweden.|Umeå School of Sport Sciences, Umeå University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berglund
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Umeå University, Sweden.|Norrlandskliniken Health Care Centre, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aasa
authors.affiliation: Division of Health and Rehabilitation, Department of Health Science, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Michaelson
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå University, Sweden.|Umeå School of Sport Sciences, Umeå University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ulrika
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Aasa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064170:Paraspinal Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*