Multifidus Muscle

Authors

Affiliations

Nathaniel Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Schematic, posterior view of the transversospinalis muscles¹

Posterior view of the Transversospinalis muscles¹

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Innervation	Action
Multifidus

Origin

Sacrum, ilium, mamillary process of L1-L5, T1-T4 (TP and Articular process), C4-C7¹

Insertion

Superomedially to SP (skipping 2-4 vertebrae)¹

Innervation

Spinal nn. (Posterior Rami)¹

Action

• BIL: Extends extends spine¹
• UNIL: I/L SB and C/L Rotation¹

Therex

How to recruit multifidi instead of obliques? One can bias the multifidi over the obliques by performing exercises that require spine extension rather than flexion.

Single leg bridge

One can recruit the multifidus muscle by having a patient perform a single leg bridge. In this exercise, one will have a leg on the ground (stance leg) and another leg in the air. Both shoulders will remain on the ground the whole time. As an example, we will imagine an individual using their R leg as the stance leg. Since both shoulders are stationary, the weight of the pelvis and raised leg (L) will add a load d/t gravity that pulls the L hip towards the ground, resulting in relative right rotation. Thus, in order to keep the pelvis level, one must perform active left rotation using the R multifidus since the multifidi perform C/L rotation unilaterally. An easy way to remember which multifid you are recruiting during S/L bridge is that the multifidi on the same side as the stance leg is being recruited.

Bird-Dogs

1.

Gilroy AM, MacPherson BR, Wikenheiser JC, Voll MM, Wesker K, Schünke M, eds. Atlas of Anatomy. 4th ed. Thieme; 2020.