Abstract
Aims: To assess the paraspinal muscle innervation and endurance in LSSMethods: Study included 25 patients with clinically and radiologically diagnosed LSS. Electromyography (EMG) of the paraspinal muscles was performed at the L3 to S1 levels bilaterally using a concentric needle. At least 20 insertions were analysed from each muscle to detect abnormal spontaneous activity associated with axonal damage (þbrillation potentials, positive sharp waves and complex repetitive discharges). Paraspinal muscle activity during trunk ßexion-extension movement and muscle endurance during dynamic isoinertial back endurance test were assessed by surface EMG. Muscle fatigue was calculated using mean power frequency (MPF) analysis. Results: Abnormal þndings in needle EMG of the paraspinal muscles were observed in 18 out of the 22 (81.8%) examined patients. Abnormal ßexionextension activation of the paraspinal muscles was observed in all examined patients. The MPF change was signiþcantly smaller than in previously evaluated healthy subjects and non-speciþc CLBP patients (P< 0.001) not suffering from symptoms of LSS. Para-spinal muscle fatigability was not associated with the denervation of the muscles. Conclusions: Denervation and abnormal activation of lumbar paraspinal muscles are frequent þndings in non-operated LSS patients. The paraspinal muscle endurance of the patients was unexpectedly good
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
