The Reliability of Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging of the Cross-sectional Area of the Lumbar Multifidus Muscles in the PNF Pattern

[Purpose] The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) in obtaining the cross-sectional area of the lumbar multifidus muscles in patients with chronic low back pain (LBP) at rest and during contractions facilitated by PNF patterns by ultrasound imaging. [Subjects] The subjects were 15 (4 males, 11 females) who had chronic LBP on one side for more than 6 months. [Methods] Subjects were asked to lie on their sides with the painful side facing up. They then rested or received a front or backward lower pelvic pattern of PNF treatment. The cross-sectional area of the multifidus muscle was measured twice using ultrasonography. [Results] The intraclass correlation coefficient of the cross-sectional area of the multifidus muscle measured by ultrasonography was excellent. [Conclusion] Our results show that measurement with ultrasound imaging can be used in the treatment of LBP as an objective assessment.