The Association between Imaging Parameters of the Paraspinal Muscles, Spinal Degeneration, and Low Back Pain

Table 2

CT-evaluated radiographic density of paraspinal muscles and association with LBP.

Research	Participants	Segments measured	Level of measurement	Total paraspinal muscle density (HU)	Partial paraspinal muscle density (HU)	Association with LBP
Keller et al. [15]	31 adults with chronic LBP	T12-L1; L3-L4; L4-L5	Intervertebral disc	Rt: 58.0 (51.7–64.3); Lt: 55.9 (49.5–62.7); Rt: 53.7 (48.1–61.9); Lt: 54.2 (47.5–62.0); Rt: 49.9 (42.6–55.8); Lt: 51.3 (46.1–59.1)	Rt: 63.8 (56.4–71.7); Lt: 59.0 (54.2–66.1); Rt: 57.0 (53.7–64.3); Lt: 59.3 (52.5–63.3); Rt: 51.8 (42.1–58.0); Lt: 52.8 (46.9–62.5)
Hicks et al. [29]	739 men and 788 women aged 70–79	L4-L5	Intervertebral disc	Men (total): 25.10 ± 9.33; Women (total): 14.98 ± 9.25; No LBP: 19.32 (18.56–20.08); Mild LBP: 17.27 (15.83–18.70); Moderate LBP: 15.99 (14.69–17.28); Severe LBP: 13.42 (11.28–15.56)		Findings suggest a link between trunk muscle composition and history of LBP as well as reduced functional capacity in older adults
Kalichman et al. [5]	187 adults	L3; L4; L5	Intervertebral disc		Values are mean for the three vertebral levels; Multifidus male: 64.80 ± 11.05; Multifidus female: 57.12 ± 9.98; Erector spine male: 56.84 ± 11.54; Erector spine female: 52.55 ± 7.41	Paraspinal muscle density decreases with age and increases BMI. It is associated with facet joint osteoarthritis, spondylolisthesis, and disc narrowing but not associated with the occurrence of LBP
Anderson et al. [28]	174 men and women, age 81.9 ± 6.4	L2	Mid-vertebral	Men: 27.2 (9.8); Women: 21.2 (12.1)

HU: Hounsfield units, LBP: low back pain, Rt: right side, and Lt: left side.
Partial paraspinal muscle density was measured using a 6 mm circle in the center of the most preserved muscle mass.