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Small But Powerful Multifidus Muscle

The multifidus (multifidus spinae : pl. multifidi ) muscle consists of a number of fleshy and tendinous fasciculi, which fill up the groove on either side of the spinous processes of the vertebrae, from the sacrum to the axis.

While very thin, the Multifidus muscle plays an important role in stabilizing the joints within the spine. The multifidus is one of the transversospinales.

Located just superficially to the spine itself, the multifidus muscle spans three joint segments and works to stabilize these joints at each level.

The stiffness and stability makes each vertebra work more effectively, and reduces the degeneration of the joint structures caused by friction from normal physical activity.

These fasciculi originate/arise from:

  • in the sacral region: from the back of the sacrum, as low as the fourth sacral foramen, from the aponeurosis of origin of the sacrospinalis, from the medial surface of the posterior superior iliac spine, and from the posterior sacroiliac ligaments.
  • in the lumbar region: from all the mamillary processes.
  • in the thoracic region: from all the transverse processes.
  • in the cervical region: from the articular processes of the lower four vertebrae.

Each fasciculus, passing obliquely upward and medially, is inserted into the whole length of the spinous process of one of the vertebræ above.

These fasciculi vary in length: the most superficial, the longest, pass from one vertebra to the third or fourth above; those next in order run from one vertebra to the second or third above; while the deepest connect two adjacent vertebrae.

The multifidus lies deep relative to the

  • spinal erectors
  • transverse abdominis
  • abdominal internal oblique muscle
  • abdominal external oblique muscle

What does the multifidus muscles do?

The number one function of our multifidus muscles is to relieve the pressure from our spinal discs and distribute the body weight/load fairly along the length of the spine.

It also helps to keep our spine upright and straight and lastly the deep muscle part of the multifidus behaves like a scaffold to our spine to increase our spine's stability.

We use our multifidus muscles every day whenever we:

  • bend our body sideways
  • bend our body backwards
  • rotate our body

Our multifidus gets activated before any body movement is done or before any load is carried, and it's mainly to protect and support our spine from injury - like a natural glove/corset.

Multifidus muscle atrophy and association with low back pain

Dysfunction in the lumbar multifidus muscles is strongly associated with low back pain.

The dysfunction can be caused by inhibition of pain by the spine. The dysfunction frequently persists even after the pain has disappeared. Such persistence may help explain the high recurrence rates of low back pain.

Persistent lumbar multifidus dysfunction is diagnosed by atrophic replacement of the multifidus with fat, as visualized by

  • magnetic resonance imaging or
  • ultrasound

One way to help recruit and strengthen the lumbar multifidus muscles is by tensing the pelvic floor muscles for a few seconds "as if stopping urination midstream".

There are research that shows that patients who suffer from low back pain (acute and chronic) tend to have poorer activation of their multifidus muscles in activities.

physiotherapy intervention

For patients who come to us for their acute and chronic back pain, we will provide an in-depth assessment to understand the core problem of their back/lower back pains. And if poor activation of the multifidus muscle is one of the causing/aggravating factors, we will include the

  • active activation
  • active strengthening

of the multifidus muscle, on top of our spinal physiotherapy interventions, which may include: