Manual therapy
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Comparative Study
Measurement of segmental cervical multifidus contraction by ultrasonography in asymptomatic adults.
The deep muscles that play significant roles in maintaining segmental stability have been measured using ultrasonography (US). However, few studies have been carried out to determine the reliability and validity of US for measuring the cervical multifidus during contraction. The aims of this investigation were to evaluate the reliability of the dimensions of the cervical multifidus as measured using US and compare the US measurements with those determined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the gold standard. ⋯ The thickness of the cervical multifidus muscle increased significantly during contraction (1.13+/-0.20, 1.19+/-0.20 and 1.17+/-0.12 cm for the C4, C5, and C6 levels, P<0.05). However, no significant differences were noted among the three levels. The results indicate that US can detect changes in segmental cervical multifidus during contraction.