Sonoelastography of Multifidus, Piriformis, Quadratus Lumborum, and Gluteus Medius Muscles in Patients with Unilateral Discogenic Lumbar Pain and Healthy Subjects: A Reliability Study

Background: This study aimed to estimate the within-day and between-day reliabilities of sonoelastography to measurethe strain ratios of lumbopelvic muscles, including multifidus (MF), piriformis (P), quadratus lumborum (QL), and gluteusmedius (GM), in a resting position by the sonoelastography device in both patients with unilateral discogenic lumbarpain and healthy individuals. Failthe treatment of deep infection of peri-articular fracture fixation.Methods: First of all, the participants (n=۲۵) were enrolled in this study, including patients (n=۱۵) and healthy subjects(n=۱۰). In the first session, an examiner estimated the strain ratio of lumbopelvic muscle three times by sonoelastography.The last session was held at a one-week interval. The collected data were analyzed using an intraclass correlationcoefficient (ICC) and a standard error of measurement.Results: The ICC calculated for MF, P, QL, and GM measurements indicated good to excellent reliabilities in bothhealthy and patient groups for within- and between-intra-examiner reliabilities, which were obtained at ۰.۹۴-۰.۹۱ and۰.۸۶-۰.۸۶, ۰.۸۷-۰.۸۹ and ۰.۸۲-۰.۸۲, ۰.۸۸-۰.۸۶ and ۰.۸۶-۰.۸۶, ۰.۸۸-۰.۸۴ and ۰.۸۴-۰.۸۴, respectively. Furthermore, thestandard errors of intra-examiner reliability for MF, P, QL, and GM strain ratio measurements in both healthy andsubject groups were estimated at the ranges of ۰.۵۲-۰.۵۱ and ۰.۶۴-۰.۶۵, ۰.۶۰-۰.۶۲ and ۰.۷۷-۰.۷۸, ۰.۲۳-۰.۲۵ and ۰.۲۵-۰.۲۵, ۰.۲۵-۰۲۶ and ۰.۳۰-۰.۳۵, respectively.Conclusion: The results revealed that sonoelastography seemed to be a reliable instrument to measure MF, P, QL,and GM muscle strain ratios in healthy subjects and patients with unilateral lumbar radicular pain. However, furtherstudies are recommended to support the findings of the present study in other patients.Level of evidence: III

Keywords:

lumbar radicular pain , sonoelastography , strain ratio , Trigger points