The association between trunk muscle stiffness measured using shear wave elastography and VF in women aged 60 and over: a cross-sectional study

In this study, the stiffness of the multifidus and erector spinae muscles was found to be lower in the osteopenic group with VF compared to the group without VF, after adjustment for the covariate effect of BMD. This finding suggests that trunk muscle stiffness is associated with VF in postmenopausal osteopenic women, after adjustment for lumbar spine BMD. Furthermore, the higher level of functional reach test in the group without VF suggests that paraspinal muscle stiffness may be related to trunk balance and reach function.