Table 2 Subject demographics (n = 72) a
Age (years) | 48.7 (8.3) | |
Gender (n, % female) | 49 (68.1) | |
BMI (kgm−2) | 29.2 (7.9) | |
Chronic low back pain grade, n (%) | ||
0 – Pain free | 14 (19.2) | |
1 – Low disability, low intensity | 44 (60.3) | |
2 – Low disability, high intensity | 5 (6.8) | |
3 – High disability, moderately limiting | 5 (6.8) | |
4 – High disability, severely limiting | 5 (6.8) | |
High intensity pain and or disability, n (%) | 15 (20.5) | |
Severe intervertebral disc degeneration n (%) | ||
L1/2 | 3 (4.2) | |
L2/3 | 8 (11.1) | |
L3/4 | 11 (15.3) | |
L4/5 | 23 (31.9) | |
L5/S1 | 22 (30.6) | |
Modic (type 2) change in vertebrae adjacent to disc n (%) | ||
L1/L2 | 4 (5.6) | |
L2/L3 | 8 (11.1) | |
L3/L4 | 16 (22.2) | |
L4/L5 | 21 (29.2) | |
L5/S1 | 17 (23.6) | |
Fat content (>50 %) at number of lumbar spinal levels, n (%) | ||
Multifidus | Erector spinae | |
0 | 42 (57.7) | 35 (47.9) |
1 | 8 (11.3) | 23 (32.4) |
2 | 12 (16.9) | 3 (4.2) |
3 | 4 (5.6) | 5 (7.0) |
4 | 6 (8.5) | 6 (8.5) |
High paraspinal muscle fat content, n (%)b | 16 (22.5) | |