Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine

"Intervertebral disc degeneration"

Original Articles

Pain & Musculoskeletal rehabilitation

Associations Between Trunk Muscle/Fat Composition, Narrowing Lumbar Disc Space, and Low Back Pain in Middle-Aged Farmers: A Cross-Sectional Study: Sora Baek, Hee-won Park, Gowun Kim; Ann Rehabil Med 2022;46(3):122-132. Published online June 30, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5535/arm.21201

Abstract
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Objective
To investigate the association of trunk fat and muscle composition, lumbar disc space narrowing, and low back pain in middle-aged farmers.
Methods
Fat and muscle areas were identified using standard Hounsfield unit ranges for adipose tissue and skeletal muscle with computed tomography images at the mid-L4 vertebral level. Trunk fat mass, muscle mass, and fat/muscle mass ratio were calculated. Low back pain was assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The L4/5-disc space and low back pain were also assessed.
Results
Male had a higher total trunk, back, psoas, and abdominal muscle mass, and visceral fat; female had a higher subcutaneous fat mass and fat/muscle ratio. Pearson correlation coefficients with ODI for waist circumference, total fat mass, visceral fat mass, and fat/muscle ratio were all significant in female; only the fat/muscle ratio was significant in male. Pearson correlation coefficients with L4/5-disc space narrowing grades for visceral fat mass, total, back, and psoas muscle mass, and fat/muscle ratio, were all significant in female; total and back muscle mass, and fat/muscle ratio in male.
Conclusion
There were significant relationships between: fat indicators with low back pain; trunk muscle mass with lumbar disc degeneration; and fat/muscle ratio with both lumbar disc degeneration and low back pain. The fat/muscle ratio may be a useful index for low back pain.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Association between a body shape index and low back pain: a cross-sectional study highlighting gender-specific differences in NHANES data
Shiwei Xie, Heng Xiao, Gengwu Li, Jigen Zheng, Fan Zhang, Yuping Lan, Mingwei Luo
BMC Public Health.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Biomechanical changes in females with poly cystic ovarian syndrome: a case–control study
Eman E. Kamal, Hamada A. Hamada, Reda Sayed Ashour, Amel M. Yousef, Rovan M. Elbesh
Scientific Reports.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Exploring the Relationship Between Low Back Pain, Physical Activity, Posture, and Body Composition in Older Women
Barbara Rosolek, Dan Iulian Alexe, Krystyna Gawlik, Elena Adelina Panaet, Ilie Mihai, Bogdan Alexandru Antohe, Anna Zwierzchowska
Healthcare.2025; 13(9): 1054. CrossRef
Association of Body Mass Index and Central Obesity with Spinopelvic Alignment Parameters in a Chinese Population: A Prospective Study
Hao Qi, Zenghui Zhao, Feiyu Zu, Chenxi Wang, Chenchen Wang, Zuzhuo Zhang, Xiaonan Tian, Dan Su, Zhaoxuan Wang, Rui Xue, Zhiyong Hou, Wei Chen, Di Zhang
World Neurosurgery.2024; 189: e153. CrossRef
The Effect of Intraabdominal Visceral and Subcutaneous Adipose Volume and Muscle Volume on Lumbar Vertebrae Degeneration
Rabia Mihriban Kilinc, Fatih İlker Can
Cureus.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Fat Hounsfield Unit Reference Interval Derived through an Indirect Method
Marian Pop, Marius Mărușteri
Diagnostics.2023; 13(11): 1913. CrossRef
Relationships Between Skeletal Muscle Mass, Lumbar Lordosis, and Chronic Low Back Pain in the Elderly
Myung Woo Park, Sang Jun Park, Sun Gun Chung
Neurospine.2023; 20(3): 959. CrossRef
Back Extensor Strength as a Potential Marker of Frailty Using Propensity Score Matching and Machine Learning
Taewook Kim, Gowun Kim, Hee-won Park, Eun Kyoung Kang, Sora Baek
Journal of Clinical Medicine.2023; 12(19): 6156. CrossRef
Comprehensive Physical Work Capacity Evaluations for Korean Farmers Assessed in Healthy Volunteers
Seungsu Jeong, Gowun Kim, Hee-won Park, Sora Baek
Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2023; 47(6): 468. CrossRef
The Relationship Between Low Back Pain and Sagittal Spinal Alignment and Back Muscle Mass in Korean Fishery Workers
Minjung Kook, Insuh Kim, Jeongyeon Seo, Hyundong Kim, Heesung Nam, Nami Han
Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2023; 47(6): 459. CrossRef

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Pain & Musculoskeletal rehabilitation

The Association Between Sagittal Plane Alignment and Disc Space Narrowing of Lumbar Spine in Farmers: Ki Hoon Park, Sora Baek, Eun Kyoung Kang, Hee-won Park, Gowun Kim, Sung Hyun Kim; Ann Rehabil Med 2021;45(4):294-303. Published online August 30, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5535/arm.21037

Abstract
PDF

Objective
To investigate whether lumbar lordosis (LL) and lumbar segmental lordosis (LSL) are related to sex, age, low back pain (LBP), and lumbar disc space narrowing (DSN).
Methods
A total of 569 farmers were recruited. In lateral spine radiograph, LL (L1–L5) and LSL (L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5) were measured using Cobb’s method. The differences in LSL values (ΔLSL) according to the presence or absence of a DSN were calculated as LSL_DSN – LSL_noDSN for each DSN level.
Results
In male, the lateral spine radiograph showed significantly greater L4-LSL and L5-LSL and smaller L1-LSL and L2-LSL compared to female. LLs in the 50–59 and ≥60 years age groups were significantly smaller compared to those in the <50 years age group. In subjects with LBP, LL and L4-LSL were significantly smaller than in those without. The ΔLSLs at the disc level with DSN showed the greatest decrease: L1-ΔLSL (Δ-3.99°), L2-ΔLSL (Δ-3.31°), L3-ΔLSL (Δ-2.87°), L4-ΔLSL (Δ-3.31°), and L5-ΔLSL (Δ-4.44°) in L1/2, L2/3, L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S1 DSN, respectively. Conversely, distant ΔLSLs were inversely increased: L1-LSL (Δ0.75°) with L4/5 DSN and L2-LSL (Δ0.94°) with L5/S1 DSN.
Conclusion
Sagittal plane alignment was significantly associated with sex, age, LBP, and DSN. LSLs around the levels of DSN were decreased, and there was compensational increase of LSL distant to the DSN to maintain the overall LL.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Minimally invasive biportal endoscopic spinal surgery for central canal stenosis in low-grade degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis: clinical outcomes and implications: a retrospective observational study
Wongthawat Liawrungrueang, Ho-Jin Lee, Sang Bum Kim, Sang Hyeok Lee, Sang Shin Lee, Ju-Eun Kim
Asian Spine Journal.2025; 19(2): 242. CrossRef
MRI study on the influence of lumbosacral vertebral body and disc factors on lumbar lordosis in children
Hong Ren, Nan Lin, Peng Zhao, Huizhi Han, Hui Zhao, Lianxiang Xiao, Mimi Tian, Xiangtao Lin
European Spine Journal.2024; 33(12): 4449. CrossRef
Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Disorders in Korean Farmers: Survey on Occupational Diseases in 2020 and 2022
Jinheum Kim, Kanwoo Youn, Jinwoo Park
Healthcare.2024; 12(20): 2026. CrossRef
Imaging observation of intervertebral disc degeneration in patients with old thoracolumbar fracture-related kyphotic deformity
Xi-long Cui, Ao Ding, Wen Yin, Wan-mei Yang, Wei Zhang, Hao Wu, Ji-shi Jiang, Yun-lei Zhai, Zi-kai Hua, Hai-yang Yu
Scientific Reports.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Association Between Ergonomic Burden Assessed Using 20-Item Agricultural Work-Related Ergonomic Risk Questionnaire and Shoulder, Low Back, and Leg Pain in Korean Farmers
Sora Baek, Jintae Park, Eun Kyoung Kang, Gowun Kim, Hyocher Kim, Hee-Won Park
Journal of Agromedicine.2023; 28(3): 532. CrossRef
The Relationship Between Low Back Pain and Sagittal Spinal Alignment and Back Muscle Mass in Korean Fishery Workers
Minjung Kook, Insuh Kim, Jeongyeon Seo, Hyundong Kim, Heesung Nam, Nami Han
Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2023; 47(6): 459. CrossRef

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Analysis of the Correlation Among Age, Disc Morphology, Positive Discography and Prognosis in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: Seung-Min Kim, Sang-Heon Lee, Bo-Ram Lee, Jeong-Won Hwang; Ann Rehabil Med 2015;39(3):340-346. Published online June 30, 2015; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2015.39.3.340

Abstract
PDF

Objective

To investigate the correlation among age, disc morphology, positive discography, and prognosis in patients with chronic low back pain.

Methods

A total of 183 intervertebral discs in 72 patients with chronic low back pain were studied. Discography was performed using a pressure-controlled manometric technique. The pain reaction during discography at each level was recorded as follows: no pain, dissimilar pain, similar pain, or concordant pain. Discs with similar or concordant pain were classified as positive. All the examined discs were assessed morphologically using axial computed tomography imaging. The grade of general degeneration and annular disruption of the discs were assessed according to the Dallas discogram description (DDD). Intradiscal injection of steroid was tried for patients with symptomatic disc identified during provocative discography and who did not consent to surgical operation.

Results

There was a higher correlation between general degeneration and age, as compared with annular disruption and age. Higher general degeneration and annular disruption grades had higher positive rates of discography. However, annular disruption alone was independently associated with positive discography. Age and grade of general degeneration did not affect the prognosis.

Conclusion

The grade of general degeneration was associated with age, but it was not correlated with positive discography and prognosis. In addition, high grade of annular disruption correlated with positive discography.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Frecuencia de uso de los hallazgos de la discografía para el diagnóstico del dolor lumbar de origen discogénico. Revisión sistemática de la literatura
A. Méndez-Gutiérrez, F. Marín Navas, J.C. Acevedo-González
Revista Española de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología.2024; 68(3): 209. CrossRef
[Translated article] Frequency of use of discography findings for the diagnosis of low back pain of discogenic origin. Systematic review of the literature
A. Méndez-Gutiérrez, F. Marín Navas, J.C. Acevedo-González
Revista Española de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología.2024; 68(3): T209. CrossRef
Discography or SPECT/CT
Tayler D. Ross, Shane Evans, Daniel P. Ahern, Jake McDonnell, Joseph S. Butler
Clinical Spine Surgery: A Spine Publication.2021; 34(10): 355. CrossRef
EXTREME LATERAL INTERBODY FUSION IN PACIENTS WITH CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN
ALBERTO AUGUSTO NETO, RENNAN GUILHERME DIAS, MARCELO WAJCHENBERG, DELIO MARTINS
Acta Ortopédica Brasileira.2020; 28(5): 256. CrossRef
The Effectiveness and Safety of Percutaneous Platelet-Rich Plasma and Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate for the Treatment of Suspected Discogenic Low Back Pain: a Comprehensive Review
Taylor Burnham, Aaron Conger, Quinn Tate, Daniel M. Cushman, Richard Kendall, Byron Schneider, Zachary L. McCormick
Current Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Reports.2019; 7(4): 372. CrossRef
Anti-inflammatory Chitosan/Poly-γ-glutamic acid nanoparticles control inflammation while remodeling extracellular matrix in degenerated intervertebral disc
Graciosa Q. Teixeira, Catarina Leite Pereira, Flávia Castro, Joana R. Ferreira, Maria Gomez-Lazaro, Paulo Aguiar, Mário A. Barbosa, Cornelia Neidlinger-Wilke, Raquel M. Goncalves
Acta Biomaterialia.2016; 42: 168. CrossRef

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Correlation between Bone Mineral Density and Interverterbral Disc Degeneration.: Kim, Yong Geol , Jung, Yong Seol , Kim, Sung Soo , Choi, Hyun Jin , Hong, Jang Hyeog , Chon, Joong Son , Kim, Hee Sang , Ahn, Kyung Hoi; J Korean Acad Rehabil Med 2000;24(3):557-562.

Abstract
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Objective: To examine the correlation between bone mineral density and intervertebral disc degeneration through retrospective study.

Method: Bone mineral density (BMD) and Magnetic resonance (MR) image of lumbar spine from 61 postmenopausal women were assessed to examine the correlation between bone mineral density and intervertebral disc degeneration. We determined BMD of lumbar spine using the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). And we evaluated signal intensity of intervertebral disc, disc height and disc herniation at each lumbar disc level using the MR image. The correlation between BMD (mean value of 2nd, 3rd and 4th lumbar spine BMD) and the sum of grading scores of intervertebral disc degeneration was assessed in all the patients.

Results: There was a positive correlation between BMD of lumbar spine and the sum of grading scores of intervertebral disc degeneration (r=0.415, p value=0.00087).

Conclusion: Bone mineral density has an inverse correlation to intervertebral disc degeneration and which is important when considering degenerative spinal disease and osteoporosis.