Trunk Muscle Mass Measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Reflecting the Cross-Sectional Area of the Paravertebral Muscles and Back Muscle Strength: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of a Prospective Cohort Study of Elderly Population

Abstract

Trunk muscles play an important role in supporting the spinal column. A decline in trunk muscle mass, as measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (TMM–BIA), is associated with low back pain and poor quality of life. The purpose of this study was to determine whether TMM–BIA correlates with quantitative and functional assessments traditionally used for the trunk muscles. We included 380 participants (aged ≥ 65 years; 152 males, 228 females) from the Shiraniwa Elderly Cohort (Shiraniwa) study, for whom the following data were available: TMM–BIA, lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and back muscle strength (BMS). We measured the cross-sectional area (CSA) and fat-free CSA of the paravertebral muscles (PVM), including the erector spinae (ES), multifidus (MF), and psoas major (PM), on an axial lumbar MRI at L3/4. The correlation between TMM–BIA and the CSA of PVM, fat-free CSA of PVM, and BMS was investigated. TMM–BIA correlated with the CSA of total PVM and each individual PVM. A stronger correlation between TMM–BIA and fat-free CSA of PVM was observed. The TMM–BIA also strongly correlated with BMS. TMM–BIA is an easy and reliable way to evaluate the trunk muscle mass in a clinical setting.