Effect of Muscle Stiffness on Vertebral Fractures in Women Over 60

Ankara City Hospital

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Balance, Postural; Vertebral Body Fractures; Osteoporosis in Post-menopausal Women

Treatments: Other: Timed Up and Go Test; Other: Berg balance scale; Other: Functional reach test; Other: Bone Mineral Density Measurement (DEXA); Other: Elastography Measurements

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06687889

Samsun-PMR-DRHENY-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to assess the quality of lumbar and abdominal core muscles through elastography and evaluate its impact on vertebral fracture risk. This tudy's secondary objective is to investigate the relationship between muscle quality, as measured by elastography, and balance and quality of life.

The fundamental questions that this study aims to answer are as follows:

Does the quality of lumbar and abdominal core muscles, as assessed by elastography, affect the risk of vertebral fractures? Is there a relationship between muscle quality (as measured by elastography) and balance and quality of life in older adults?

Full description

Osteoporosis, a systemic bone disease marked by reduced bone mass and deteriorating bone structure, increases fracture risk, especially in the spine. Vertebral fractures, most common in the lower thoracic and upper lumbar regions, can impair motor function, limit daily activities, and raise disability and mortality risks. With aging, decreasing bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle quality contribute to structural changes like kyphosis and lordosis, further reducing balance and increasing fracture risk. While DEXA remains the standard for BMD assessment, ultrasound (USG) and shear wave elastography (SWE) offer non-invasive imaging for muscle quality without radiation exposure. Despite muscle degeneration's impact on spinal stability, most osteoporosis studies focus on bones, with few examining muscles. Recognizing this gap, our study uses elastography to assess lumbar and abdominal muscle quality and its impact on vertebral fracture risk, while also exploring the relationship between muscle quality, balance, and quality of life in older adults.

Enrollment: 54 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 60+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Female, aged ≥ 60 years

Exclusion criteria

• History of lumbar spine surgery
• Cancer
• Spinal infection
• Severe degenerative scoliosis
• Chronic kidney failure
• Liver cirrhosis
• Bilateral hip arthroplasty

Trial design

54 participants in 2 patient groups

vertebral fractures group

Description:

vertebral fractures group

Treatment:

Other: Elastography Measurements

Other: Bone Mineral Density Measurement (DEXA)

Other: Functional reach test

Other: Timed Up and Go Test

Other: Berg balance scale

non vertebral fractures group

Description:

non vertebral fractures group

Treatment:

Other: Elastography Measurements

Other: Bone Mineral Density Measurement (DEXA)

Other: Functional reach test

Other: Timed Up and Go Test

Other: Berg balance scale