Multifidus Lift Test
Top Contributors - Swati Singh, Lilian Ashraf, Matt Huey and Kim Jackson
Purpose
The multifidus muscle plays a key role in maintaining the stability of the lumbar spine, and its dysfunction is often associated with low back pain (LBP). Restoring its function is a common goal in rehabilitation.[1]
The multifidus lift test (MLT) is a non-invasive test performed manually to assess the functioning of the muscle.[1]
Technique
- Position the patient lying face down (prone) on a firm examination table. Can place pillow to support under the hips so the spine is in a neutral position.
- Have the patient place their arms overhead to roughly 120 degrees at the shoulder and elbows at 90 degrees of flexion.
- Stand to one side of the patient. Palpate the spinous process and find the interspinous space. Once the space is found, move fingers just lateral to palpate the multifidus.
- Once the multifidus is found, as the patient to lift the contralateral arm off the table approximately 5cm or 2 inches.
- Rate the feeling of the multifidus into your fingers. Should be a strong feeling of the multifidus contracting under your finger. If none is felt or delayed, it can mean weakness[1].
Go through the video to learn more about the multifidus lift test.
Evidence
Interrater reliability of the multifidus lift test was substantial to excellent. When performed at L4/L5 or L5/S1, the multifidus lift test demonstrated evidence of concurrent validity through its relationship with the reference standard results at L4/L5. The multifidus lift test generally failed to demonstrate a relationship with the reference standard results from the L5/S1 level.[1]
A study by Hofste et al[3], did perform intra musculature EMG compared to surface EMG to see how if the multifidus does contract in isolation. It was determined that in healthy participants, not only do the multifidus contact but also the erector spinae musculature as well which brings into question if this test measure isolated multifidus contraction.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Hebert JJ, Koppenhaver SL, Teyhen DS, Walker BF, Fritz JM. The evaluation of lumbar multifidus muscle function via palpation: reliability and validity of a new clinical test. The Spine Journal. 2015 Jun 1;15(6):1196-202.
- ↑ 1. Mainstay Medical. Multifidus Lift Test [Internet]. YouTube. 2022 [cited 2025 Jul 31]. Available from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN_qYiNJR1Y
- ↑ Hofste, A., Soer, R., Salomons, E., Peuscher, J., Wolff, A., van der Hoeven, H., Oosterveld, F., Groen, G., & Hermens, H. (2020). Intramuscular EMG Versus Surface EMG of Lumbar Multifidus and Erector Spinae in Healthy Participants. Spine, 45(20), E1319–E1325. https://doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0000000000003624