Effects of Age and Sex on Properties of Lumbar Erector Spinae in Healthy People: Preliminary Results From a Pilot Study

Zugui Wu, Yi Wang, Zixuan Ye, Yingxing Guan, Xiangling Ye, Zehua Chen, Congcong Li, Guoqian Chen, Yue Zhu, Jianping Du, Guocai Chen, Wengang Liu, Xuemeng Xu, Zugui Wu, Yi Wang, Zixuan Ye, Yingxing Guan, Xiangling Ye, Zehua Chen, Congcong Li, Guoqian Chen, Yue Zhu, Jianping Du, Guocai Chen, Wengang Liu, Xuemeng Xu

Abstract

Background: The influences of age and sex on properties of lumbar erector spinae have not been previously studied. Changes in the performance of lumbar erector spinae properties associated with age represent a valuable indicator of risk for lower-back-related disease. Objective: To investigate the lumbar erector spinae properties with regard to age and sex to provide a reference dataset. Methods: We measured muscle tone and stiffness of the lumbar erector spinae (at the L3-4 level) in healthy men and women (50 young people, aged 20-30 years; 50 middle-aged people, aged 40-50 years; and 50 elderly people, aged 65-75 years) using a MyotonPRO device. Results: In general, there are significant differences in muscle tone and stiffness among young, middle-aged, and elderly participants, and there were significant differences in muscle tone and stiffness between men and women, and there was no interaction between age and sex. The muscle tone and stiffness of the elderly participants were significantly higher than those of the middle-aged and young participants (P < 0.01), and the muscle tone and stiffness of the middle-aged participants were significantly higher than those of the young participants (P < 0.01). In addition, the muscle tone and stiffness of men participants were significantly higher than that of women participants (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Our results indicate that muscle tone and stiffness of the lumbar erector spinae increase with age. The muscle tone and stiffness of the lumbar erector spinae in men are significantly higher than in women. The present study highlights the importance of considering age and sex differences when assessing muscle characteristics of healthy people or patients.

Keywords: age; lumbar erector spinae; muscle tone; properties; sex; stiffness.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Copyright © 2021 Wu, Wang, Ye, Guan, Ye, Chen, Li, Chen, Zhu, Du, Chen, Liu and Xu.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Measurement points and MyotonPRO probe contact measurement points.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Age and sex differences in muscle tone. #Indicates P value < 0.01; ∗Indicates P value < 0.05.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Age and sex differences in stiffness. #Indicates P value < 0.01; ∗Indicates P value < 0.05.

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