[Symmetry of cervical multifidus muscle in females with chronic non-specific neck pain and healthy by ultrasonography]

Multifidus muscle is one of the short and deep posterior Paraspinal muscles, which gives stability to the spine during various activities. Studies have shown that in people with neck pain, weakness and atrophy of neck muscles are major factors in the incidence of neck pain. Measurement of muscle's dimensions by ultrasonography provides an opportunity to be able to objectively assess muscle atrophy or hypertrophy. This study aimed to assess symmetry of cervical multifidus muscle size in females with chronic non-specific neck pain and healthy by ultrasonography apparatus. Twenty five women with unilateral chronic nonspecific neck pain and 25 healthy women were participated in this study. All subjects were employed and more than 4 hours working with computers or paying office in a day. Imaging of the cervical multifidus muscles were done bilaterally in the level of the fourth vertebra. Anterior-Posterior Dimension [APD], Lateral Dimension[LD], Cross-Sectional Area [multiplied of two diameters[APD and LD]] and the Shape ratio [Lateral diameter divided by the Anterior-Posterior diameter[LD/APD]] of the muscle were measured and recorded. Multifidus muscle size in patients group was smaller than the healthy group. In patients group, size of multifidus muscle in the painful side was smaller than the opposite side. Asymmetry of muscle size between the two sides, in the patient group was higher than the control group [P < 0.05]. The ratio of smaller size to the larger size of the muscle, in the healthy group was higher than the ratio in the patient group [P < 0.05]. In patients group, asymmetry of the muscle size between two sides, also smaller size of the muscle in the painful side, showed that muscle atrophy has happened in the involved side

Comparison of anteroposterior thickness of elite sprinters and distance runners' abdominal muscles

Abdominal muscles are known to have great effects on the locomotion and stabilization of trunk, as well as, contribution to the respiratory functions. These cited functions are of much importance, especially when an individual performs professional sport activities. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of professional sprinting and distance running [track and field] activity, on the abdominal muscles of the respective athletes. 18 elite male runners [9 distance runners and 9 sprinters] were selected simply, with no randomization, aged 18-22 years. Measurement of abdominal muscles thickness was performed by a clinical ultrasonography machine, furnished with a curvilinear probe, emitting 7.5 MHz ultrasonic waves. Athletes were supine and still throughout the test, the probe was placed on two points of athletes' left abdomen, known as standard points for ultrasonography of abdominal muscles. The anteroposterior [AP] thicknesses of all abdominal muscles, had statistically significant differences between the two groups of runners, as the rectus abdominis muscle [RA] [P < 0.001]. Internal and external Oblique muscles [IO and EO] were thicker in the sprinters group; and in contrast, the transversus abdominis muscle [TA] owned more thickness among the distance runners [P < 0.05]. A long term physical exercise has specific effects on postural and motive muscles. So, sprinting sports have the most effect on postural muscles and distance running has the most effect on motive muscles