Table 2.

T2 relaxation time and cross-sectional area (CSA) of paraspinal muscles.

Muscles	Elite martial arts athletes	Amateur enthusiasts	Sedentary	P value	Post hoc test
					P12	P13	P23
FF (%)
PS	2.6 (1.7–3.5)	3.0 (2.5–3.6)	3.7 (3.2–4.2)	0.154	–	–	–
QL	2.8 (1.6–3.9)	4.0 (2.8–5.2)	4.3 (3.5–5.1)	0.07	–	–	–
MF	2.9 (1.9–3.9)	4.7 (3.4–6.0)	5.2 (4.3–6.1)	0.003	0.139	0.001	0.026
ES	2.9 (1.7–4.1)	4.3 (3.0–5.5)	5.4 (4.2–6.5)	0.039	0.200	0.013	0.138
CSA (cm2)
PS	12.6 (11.0–14.2)	11.4 (10.4–12.3)	9.9 (8.9–10.8)	0.004	0.248	0.002	0.019
QL	5.6 (4.6–6.6)	5.1 (4.3–5.8)	4.1 (3.6–4.6)	0.021	0.274	0.008	0.061
MF	7.0 (6.1–7.9)	7.0 (6.5–7.5)	6.1 (5.6–6.5)	0.029	0.782	0.074	0.011
ES	15.1 (12.3–18.0)	12.1 (10.7–13.5)	12.3 (11.0–13.6)	0.087	–	–	–

Data are presented as mean (95 % CI). PS = psoas, QL = quadratus lumborum, MF = multifidus, ES = erector spinae.

P values < 0.05 indicate statistically significant results and are marked in bold.

P₁₂ values represent the difference between elite martial arts athletes and amateur enthusiasts.

P₁₃ values represent the difference between elite martial arts athletes and sedentary control.

P₂₃ values represent the difference between amateur enthusiasts and sedentary control.