Table 3 Imaging parameters of paraspinal muscles among Pfirrmann grades (Data is presented as Mean ± SD)

MF FCSA/TMCSA(%)

15.44 ± 5.34

19.76 ± 7.41

23.85 ± 7.43

30.30 ± 10.70

45.70 ± 12.31

 < 0.001

 TMCSA (cm2)

17.27 ± 3.29

16.03 ± 2.82

17.07 ± 3.18

18.25 ± 3.84

16.51 ± 0.77

0.404

 VBE (cm2)

13.67 ± 1.88

14.19 ± 2.09

14.88 ± 2.21

14.79 ± 1.85

13.43 ± 4.21

0.103

 RCSA

0.64 ± 0.14

0.56 ± 0.09

0.58 ± 0.13

0.62 ± 0.12

0.65 ± 0.14

0.366

 CSA asymmetry(%)

8.45 ± 6.22

7.18 ± 5.56

8.22 ± 6.25

8.32 ± 6.59

8.32 ± 6.44

0.998

ES FCSA/TMCSA(%)

10.86 ± 5.42

18.07 ± 10.56

22.91 ± 11.84

28.01 ± 12.89

50.79 ± 25.40

 < 0.001

 TMCSA (cm2)

25.61 ± 6.42

24.46 ± 5.67

22.99 ± 5.41

24.52 ± 6.07

19.82 ± 3.75

0.355

 RCSA

0.94 ± 0.24

0.86 ± 0.14

0.78 ± 0.19

0.83 ± 0.2

0.81 ± 0.27

0.099

 CSA asymmetry(%)

10.22 ± 6.28

11.88 ± 9.14

11.16 ± 9.18

10.99 ± 9.13

4.79 ± 2.06

0.446

PS FCSA/TMCSA(%)

0.85 ± 0.70

2.80 ± 3.06

2.33 ± 1.88

2.83 ± 2.48

4.16 ± 2.72

0.003

 TMCSA (cm2)

24.22 ± 6.95

24.72 ± 7.97

24.84 ± 7.99

24.74 ± 9.58

17.88 ± 3.86

0.364

 RCSA

0.88 ± 0.19

0.86 ± 0.21

0.84 ± 0.26

0.83 ± 0.25

0.68 ± 0.11

0.618

 CSA asymmetry(%)

9.41 ± 5.77

4.56 ± 3.57

7.53 ± 5.81

8.11 ± 6.64

20.30 ± 9.51

0.005