Ultrasonic Thickness of Abdominal Wall Muscles in Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain Patients based on STarT Questionnaire

The Multidimensional STarT Questionnaire is an index of clinical decision making and the choice of treatment type in patients with Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain (NSCLBP). The aim of the present study was to compare the ultrasonic thickness of abdominal wall muscles between NSCLBP subgroups based on StarT Questionnaire. A total of 19 male patients with NSCLBP participated in the current analytical study. Based on the STarT Questionnaire, 10 participants were placed in the mild subgroup and 7 in the moderate subgroup, and only 2 participants had severe subgroup characteristics. The ultrasonic thickness of abdominal wall muscles was measured at rest and contraction in the supine position. Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, spatial analysis with repeated measure, and paired t-test were used for data analysis. Values p< 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The thickness of the transversus abdominis and internal oblique muscles in the moderate subgroup was significantly lower than that of mild subgroup (p=0.04, p=0.001 respectively), yet no difference was found in external oblique muscle (p=0.05). All three muscles (internal oblique, transversus abdominis, and external oblique) in contraction were thicker than in the rest condition (p=0.02, p=0.001, p=0.007, respectively). Moreover, there was no significant difference between the thickness of the left and right in either of the muscles, whether in the rest or in the contraction condition (p>0.05). Considering the difference in ultrasonic thickness of the abdominal wall muscles between the subgroups of NSCLBP patients based on the STarT Questionnaire, this questionnaire can be used to determine the type of treatment.