The Effects of Paraspinal Muscle Volume on Physiological Load on the Lumbar Vertebral Column: A Finite-Element Study

Analytical biomechanical study using a finite-element (FE) model.

We investigated the effects of paraspinal muscle volume to the physiological loading on the lower lumbar vertebral column using a FE model.

The FE model analysis can measure the physiological load on the lumbar vertebral column. Which changes as the surrounding environment changes. In this study, our FE model consisted of the sacrum, lumbar spine (L3-L5), intervertebral discs, facet joints, and paraspinal muscles.

Three-dimensional FE models of healthy lumbar spinal units were reconstructed. The physiological loads exerted on the lumbar vertebra column were evaluated by applying different paraspinal muscle volumes (without muscles, 50%, 80%, and 100% of healthy muscle volume).

As the paraspinal muscle volume increased, the loads exerted on the vertebral column decreased. The mean load on the intervertebral disc was 1.42 ± 0.75 MPa in the model without muscle, 1.393 ± 0.73 MPa in the 50% muscle volume model, 1.367 ± 0.71 MPa in the 80% muscle volume model, and 1.362 ± 0.71 MPa in the 100% muscle volume model. The mean loads exerted on the posterior column of lumbar spine were 11.79 ± 4.70 MPa in the model without muscles, 11.57 ± 4.57 MPa in the model with 50% muscle volume, and 11.13 ± 4.51 MPa in the model with 80% muscle volume, and 10.92 ± 4.33 MPa in the model with 100% muscle volume. The mean pressure on the vertebral body in the model without paraspinal muscle, and with 50%, 80%, and 100% paraspinal muscle volume were 14.02 ± 2.82, 13.82 ± 2.62, 13.65 ± 2.61, and 13.59 ± 2.51 MPa, respectively.

Using FEM, we observed that the paraspinal muscle volume decreases pressure exerted on the lumbar vertebral column. Based on these results, we believe that exercising to increase paraspinal muscle volume would be helpful for spinal pain management and preventing lumbar spine degeneration.Level of Evidence: N/A.