A comparison of muscle activation as measured by ultrasound in axial and radicular low back pain patients’ undergoing PT

Thursday, November 13, 2025

5:25 PM - 5:33 PM CT

Location: Griffin Hall - Screen 1

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP), a major cause of disability in the US, is categorized into axial (localized) and radicular (radiating) pain¹. Physical Therapy (PT) helps by strengthening back muscles but its effectiveness by pain type is less understood. This is important as axial and radicular pain may respond differently due to potential neurologic impairments in radicular pain. Most studies rely on subjective metrics, with limited use of objective measures like ultrasound-measured muscle activation^2,3.

Submitting Author(s)

EC

Esther Chung, BS

Medical Student
Frank H Netter SOM at Quinnipiac University
North Haven, Connecticut, United States

Co-Author(s)

WW

Wendy Wang, MD

Anesthesiologist
Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University, United States
RM

Richard F. Murray, PT

Physical Therapist
Department of Physical Therapy, Long Wharf Spine Center, Yale New Haven Hospital, United States
XX

Xiangyi Xi, Ph.D

Biostatician
Yale Center for Analytic Sciences, Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, United States
HL

Hung-Mo Lin, n/a

Physician
Yale University, United States
Kanishka Rajput, n/a (she/her/hers)

Physician
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut, United States