TABLE 3.
Characterization of multifidus muscle physical properties, strength and mass.
| Characteristics | Cases n (%) | Controls n (%) | p-value* | ORcrude (95% CI) |
| Muscle physical properties | ||||
| Muscle tonus# | ||||
| Low | 6 (22.2) | 9 (37.5) | 1.000 (reference) | |
| Intermediate | 9 (33.3) | 10 (41.7) | 0.185 | 1.350 (0.343–5.315) |
| High | 12 (44.4) | 5 (20.8) | 3.600 (0.829–15.628) | |
| Muscle decrement# | ||||
| Low | 6 (22.2) | 9 (37.5) | 1.000 (reference) | |
| Intermediate | 12 (44.4) | 7 (29.2) | 0.406 | 2.571 (0.640–10.338) |
| High | 9 (33.3) | 8 (33.3) | 1.687 (0.414–6.878) | |
| Muscle stiffness# | ||||
| Low | 5 (18.5) | 11 (45.8) | 1.000 (reference) | |
| Intermediate | 12 (44.4) | 6 (25.0) | 0.099 | 4.400 (1.041–18.599)† |
| High | 10 (37.0) | 7 (29.2) | 3.143 (0.751–13.159) | |
| Muscle strength | ||||
| ST5 | ||||
| Normal | 25 (92.6) | 22 (100.0) | 0.192 | N.D. |
| Reduced | 2 (7.4) | 0 (0.0) | ||
| Muscle mass | ||||
| Muscle mass | ||||
| Low | 1 (4.2) | 22 (100.0) | ||
| Normal range | 19 (79.2) | 0 (0.0) | 0.724 | N.D. |
| Above | 4 (16.7) | |||
| Muscle performance | ||||
| ST60# | ||||
| Low | 9 (33.3) | 0 (0.0) | 0.008 | N.D. |
| Intermedium | 8 (29.6) | 7 (31.8) | ||
| High | 10 (37.0) | 15 (68.2) | ||
| Gait speed | ||||
| Good | 6 (27.3) | 12 (57.1) | 0.047 | 1.000 (reference) |
| Low | 16 (72.7) | 9 (42.9) | 3.556 (0.993–12.733)‡ | |
*p- value determined by χ2-test; #Swiss reference values were used. ‡borderline effect (P-value = 0.051). BMI (Body mass Index); ST5 (5 Times Sit-to-Stand Test); ST60 (60 s Sit-to-Stand Test). #Categorization parameters. †p-value = 0.044. The bold values refers to values satistical significants.