Comparison of trunk muscle thickness and brightness in collegiate female athletes with and without a history of low back pain

BACKGROUND: Trunk muscle thickness and brightness are associated with injuries. OBJECTIVE: This study compared trunk muscle thickness and brightness between female college athletes with and without history of low back pain. METHODS: 15 sprinters, 22 volleyball-, and 18 basketball players, all females, were included. The participants were grouped based on the presence of low back pain. Short-axis ultrasound images of the rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, transverse abdominis, and lumbar multifidus were obtained. The muscle brightness was calculated after selecting the region of interest for each muscle. Muscle thickness and brightness in both groups were compared. RESULTS: In sprinters, the right lumbar multifidus thickness was significantly thinner in the low back pain group (24.66 ± 2.98 mm) than in the healthy group (28.13 ± 2.84 mm). Volleyball and basketball players showed no significant differences in muscle thickness between the two groups for any muscle type. In volleyball players, the right transverse abdominis thickness is inclined toward thinness in the low back pain group than in the healthy group, but the difference was not significant. In all sports, there were no significant differences in muscle brightness between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Low back pain in female college athletes may not be related to trunk muscle thickness and brightness.