Table 8. The change in multifidus muscle cross-sectional area in each therapy group (Unit: mm²).

	Left3	Right3
Group b	0.2±0.5a	−0.2±0.5
Group c	11.5±3.8†††	11.2±3.2†††
Group d	7.5±2.0†††≠≠	7.0±2.1†††≠≠≠

^aMean ± SD. ^bGroup I: general physical therapy (GPT), ^cGroup II: GPT + lumbar stabilization exercise using sling, ^dGroup III: GPT + push-up plus exercise using sling. ¹p < 0.05, ²p < 0.01; ³p < 0.001(one way ANONA). ^†p < 0.05, ^††p < 0.01; ^†††p < 0.001: PT vs. Sling Ex and Sling Ex+PU (Tukey post hoc test). ^≠p < 0.05, ^≠≠p < 0.01; ^≠≠≠p < 0.001: Sling Ex vs. Sling Ex+PU (Tukey post hoc test). *p < 0.05,**p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001 (paired t-test)