Table 4.
Relative cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of trunk muscles in athletes with and without LDD
| CSAs of trunk muscles (mm2 kg−1) | LDD (69 athletes) | Non-LDD (82 athletes) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rectus abdominis | 24.1 ± 5.8 (22.7–25.5) | 26.6 ± 5.8 (25.3–27.8) | 0.011 |
| Obliques | 88.6 ± 16.4 (84.6–92.5) | 94.3 ± 14.3 (91.1–97.4) | 0.024 |
| Psoas | 36.8 ± 8.4 (34.8–38.8) | 39.2 ± 8.2 (37.4–41.0) | 0.086 |
| Quadratus lumborum | 24.5 ± 4.7 (23.4–25.7) | 26.7 ± 4.7 (25.6–27.7) | 0.006 |
| Erector spinae plus multifidus | 76.0 ± 13.4 (72.8–79.3) | 82.6 ± 11.6 (80.0–85.1) | 0.002 |
| Total area | 250.1 ± 38.1 (240.9–259.2) | 269.2 ± 32.0 (262.2–276.3) | 0.001 |
Data are presented as mean ± SD (95 % CI). All relative CSAs are normalized by their body weight
LDD lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration