NCT06687889

Effect of Muscle Stiffness on Vertebral Fractures in Women Over 60

The Effect of Abdominal and Lumbar Muscle Stiffness Assessed by Elastography on Vertebral Fractures: A Cross-Sectional Study in Women Over 60

• Status: Completed
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 81 (actual)
• Sponsor: Ankara City Hospital Bilkent · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

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?

Detailed 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.

Conditions

• Osteoporosis in Post-menopausal Women
• Vertebral Body Fractures
• Balance, Postural

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Elastography Measurements	Elastography Measurements
OTHER	Bone Mineral Density Measurement (DEXA)	Bone Mineral Density Measurement (DEXA)
OTHER	Berg balance scale	Berg balance scale
OTHER	Functional reach test	Functional reach test
OTHER	Timed Up and Go Test	Timed Up and Go Test

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-11-24
• Primary completion: 2025-01-15
• Completion: 2025-05-15
• First posted: 2024-11-14
• Last updated: 2025-08-28

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)