Associations between thoracolumbar fascia deformation, erector spinae activity, and deadlift performance: a matched pairs study

Objectives Recent research has pointed to a crucial role of intra- and extramuscular fascial tissue in force transmission. The paraspinal fascia has been shown to contribute to the maintenance of spinal stability and paraspinal muscle activity. This study followed on from a previous investigation of thoracolumbar fascia deformability (TLFD) and its relationship to deadlift performance. Methods 10 trained healthy participants, (Mean age ± SD: 34.7 ± 11.8) were compared with untrained controls (35.8 ± 9.3). The TLFD was examined using high-resolution ultrasound. The percentage of one-repetition maximum (%1RM) using a three-axis gyroscope and the average maximal voluntary contraction (%aMVC) of the erector spinae muscle using surface electromyography were determined during deadlifts. A multiple linear regression model (LM) was used to predict %1RM and %aMVC by TLFD. Paired Student's T-tests were used to compare %1RM, %aMVC, deviation from the barbell and TLFD between groups. Results LM revealed no significant effect for TLFD in predicting %1RM (B = 0.344, p=.322), but did in predicting %aMVC (B = -1.47, p=.023). Trained had lower %1RM than untrained (p = .008) and lower %aMVC (p = .028), but no difference in TLFD (p = .415) and deviation of the barbell (p = .519). Conclusion TLFD could be essential for healthy functional movement and contribute to lifting performance.