Relationship between muscle thickness and spinal column alignment in the standing and sitting positions

Akihiro Ito and Yoshiaki Endo

International Research Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences
Published: January 28 2021
Volume 9, Issue 1
Pages 19-23
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30918/IRJMMS.91.20.054

Abstract

The trunk muscles play a role in posture maintenance, but whether they are related to spinal alignment in different postures has only been investigated in young adults and not in the elderly who show age-related changes in the spine. This study aimed to determine the relationship between changes in spinal alignment and muscle thickness in three postures in healthy elderly subjects. Spinal mouse measurements of Spinal alignment and ultrasound measurements of the trunk muscles were performed in the standing, upright and slump sitting positions on healthy elderly individuals living in the community. Results showed significant differences in the sacral tilt, lumbar curvature, and overall tilt angles in the slump sitting position for spinal alignment, and significant differences were noted in muscle thickness between standing and upright sitting, standing and slump sitting, and standing and slump sitting, and upright and slump sitting for the spinal proprioceptive muscle (second lumbar level). In conclusion, there was no correlation between the two changes. It was suggested that the spine be viewed as a whole and not in parts, with muscle thickness changes.

Keywords: Spine, postural difference, posture holding muscle.

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