-
Journal of Bodywork and Movement... Apr 2022Suspension training reportedly enhances core musculature co-contraction. This study investigated whether the use of a suspension trainer increases core musculature...
Suspension training reportedly enhances core musculature co-contraction. This study investigated whether the use of a suspension trainer increases core musculature co-activation during exercises vs. its floor counterpart. Participants were 25 healthy volunteers (16 men, 9 women; age: 27.24 ± 4.02 years). Wireless electromyography electrodes were placed bilaterally at the rectus abdominis (RA), erector spinae (ES), and abdominal obliques (OB). Test order (push-up, bridge, and prone plank) was randomized (exercise and condition) with a 3-min rest period between tests. Co-contraction ratios between muscle groups were estimated by root mean square. Ratios (RA/ES, RA/OB, ES/OB) were analyzed using paired t-tests (P ≤ .05). For all floor exercises, co-contraction of core musculature was significantly higher than suspension trainer. During suspension training, perturbations due to increased agonist activation without similar increases in antagonists may be too intense for untrained or injured individuals. Individuals lacking muscle control to recruit muscles concurrently may benefit from mastering traditional floor exercises to promote joint stiffness and stability before suspension trainer exercises.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Adult; Electromyography; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Female; Humans; Male; Rectus Abdominis; Young Adult
PubMed: 35500983
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2022.02.018 -
Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental Oct 2020Lean muscle plays critical roles in physical functioning and metabolism. However, little is known regarding associations between muscle and mortality in adults.
BACKGROUND
Lean muscle plays critical roles in physical functioning and metabolism. However, little is known regarding associations between muscle and mortality in adults.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose was to evaluate associations between abdominal muscle quantity (area) and quality (density) with risk of all-cause mortality in a diverse cohort free of cardiovascular disease.
DESIGN
Data were taken from the Abdominal Body Composition, Inflammation, and Cardiovascular Disease ancillary study of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis prospective cohort study. Participants were adults (45-85 years) free of extant cardiovascular disease, and of Hispanic, African American, Chinese, or Caucasian descent. Of the original 6814 MESA participants, a random, representative sample (n = 1974) participated in the ancillary body composition study. Abdominal muscle area and density were measured from computed tomography scans spanning L2-L4. Muscle density was measured as attenuation in Hounsfield units, and area was quantified as cm. Gender-stratified cox proportional hazard models assessed the risk of all-cause mortality across gender-specific quartiles of muscle area and density adjusting for confounders, with area and density entered simultaneously.
RESULTS
At baseline, the mean age for men (n = 946) and women (n = 955) was 61.5 and 62.5 years and median follow-up time was 10.6 and 10.9 years, respectively. Muscle density was inversely associated with mortality, with the highest quartile of density showing a 73% reduction in risk for men (HR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.14-0.51; p-trend<0.001) and 57% reduction for women (HR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.18-1.01; p-trend = 0.04) compared to the lowest quartile when adjusting for mortality risk factors, lifestyle, BMI and visceral fat. There was no association between muscle area and all-cause mortality for men (p-trend = 0.58) or women (p-trend = 0.47).
CONCLUSIONS
Greater abdominal muscle density, but not muscle area, is associated with markedly lower risk of all-cause mortality across a decade of follow up. Muscle quality may be a powerful predictor of mortality in community dwelling adults.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Atherosclerosis; Body Composition; Ethnicity; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Proportional Hazards Models; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors
PubMed: 32712219
DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2020.154321 -
International Urogynecology Journal Aug 2023Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) patients predominantly experience involuntary leakage during respiratory functions that induce a rapid increase in intra-abdominal...
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) patients predominantly experience involuntary leakage during respiratory functions that induce a rapid increase in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) such as coughing and sneezing. The abdominal muscles have an important role in the forced expiration and modulation of IAP. We hypothesized that SUI patients have different thickness changes in the abdominal muscles compared to healthy individuals during breathing maneuvers.
METHODS
This case-control study was conducted on 17 adult women with SUI and 20 continent women. Muscle thickness changes were measured by ultrasonography at the end of deep inspiration and expiration, and the expiratory phase of voluntary coughing for external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and transverse abdominis (TrA) muscles. The percent thickness changes of muscles were used and analyzed with a two-way mixed ANOVA test and post-hoc pairwise comparison at a confidence level of 95% (p < 0.05).
RESULTS
The percent thickness changes of TrA muscle were significantly lower in SUI patients at deep expiration (p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 2.055) and coughing (p < 0.001, Cohen's d=1.691). While, percent thickness changes for EO (p = 0.004, Cohen's d=0.996) and IO thickness (p < 0.001, Cohen's d=1.784) were greater at deep expiration and deep inspiration, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The percent thickness changes of abdominal muscles differed between women with and without SUI during breathing maneuvers. The present study provided information regarding the altered function of abdominal muscles during breathing maneuvers; therefore, it is important to consider the respiratory role of abdominal muscles for the rehabilitation of SUI patients.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Female; Case-Control Studies; Urinary Incontinence, Stress; Abdominal Muscles; Ultrasonography; Abdominal Cavity; Muscle Contraction
PubMed: 36811632
DOI: 10.1007/s00192-023-05458-9 -
Disability and Rehabilitation Mar 2022To evaluate the feasibility of exercises for the abdominal muscles in patients after colostomy or ileostomy formation on the following parameters: muscle activity, pain,...
PURPOSE
To evaluate the feasibility of exercises for the abdominal muscles in patients after colostomy or ileostomy formation on the following parameters: muscle activity, pain, discomfort, and difficulty of performing the exercises.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patients with a new stoma were divided into groups based on time after surgery: Early group, 0-2 weeks ( = 12); Intermediate group, 2-6 weeks ( = 15); and Late group, 6-12 weeks ( = 10). During a single individual test session, participants in each group performed a different set of 10-11 abdominal coordination and strengthening exercises for the abdominal muscles. Activity of the abdominal muscles was measured with electromyography. Pain, discomfort, and difficulty were rated for each exercise.
RESULTS
For the Early group, muscle activity reaching a predetermined threshold was measured for half of the participants in a few exercises. In both the Intermediate group and the Late group, muscle activity reaching the onset criteria was measured for all muscles for a high percentage of participants in several exercises. Both strengthening and coordinating exercises were feasible based on low ratings of pain, discomfort, and difficulty.
CONCLUSIONS
This study identified feasible exercises that activated the abdominal muscles at different time points after stoma formation. The observations can be used as guidance for the choice of exercises in clinical practice and future research.Implications for rehabilitationThe findings of this study can be used in clinical practice as guidance for choice of exercise at different time points after surgery.This study identified useful exercises for activating the abdominal muscles in rehabilitation after stoma surgery from two weeks on.In the first two postoperative weeks, there was limited involvement of the abdominal muscles with the evaluated exercises.Most of the evaluated abdominal exercises were feasible after stoma surgery based on pain, discomfort, and difficulty.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Electromyography; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Humans; Surgical Stomas
PubMed: 32510238
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1771620 -
BMC Women's Health Nov 2023Pilates is expected to have a positive effect on women with weakened abdominal muscles after childbirth. Pilates may have a beneficial effect on the structure and...
BACKGROUND
Pilates is expected to have a positive effect on women with weakened abdominal muscles after childbirth. Pilates may have a beneficial effect on the structure and function of the abdominal muscles in pregnant women. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Pilates on inter-recti distance, thickness of the rectus abdominis, waist circumference, and abdominal muscle endurance in primiparous women.
METHODS
Thirty-five primiparous postpartum women were assigned to either the Pilates exercise group (n = 20) or the control group (n = 15). Pilates was undertaken by the exercise group for 50 min/day, 5 days/week, for 4 weeks. The control group maintained their daily activities without any intervention. The inter-recti distance was measured at three locations along the linea alba, and the thickness of the rectus abdominis was measured using ultrasound. Abdominal muscle endurance was measured using a repeated 1-min curl-up test. Waist circumference was also measured.
RESULTS
The exercise group showed significant improvements from baseline in inter-recti distance, waist circumference, and abdominal muscle endurance (p < 0.05). The control group showed no significant improvement in these variables. Compared with the control group, the exercise group showed significantly improved performance in terms of inter-recti distance, waist circumference, and abdominal muscle endurance (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study demonstrate that Pilates was effective in reducing inter-recti distance and waist circumference and improving abdominal muscle endurance in primiparous postpartum women. Pilates is considered an effective exercise for improving muscle structure and function in primiparous postpartum women, helping in the recovery from, and preventing, diastasis rectus abdominis.
Topics: Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Rectus Abdominis; Waist Circumference; Abdominal Muscles; Postpartum Period; Abdominal Wall
PubMed: 38008749
DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02775-5 -
Computer Methods and Programs in... Apr 2022Biomechanical assessment of the abdominal wall represents a major prerequisite for a better understanding of physiological and pathological situations such as hernia,...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Biomechanical assessment of the abdominal wall represents a major prerequisite for a better understanding of physiological and pathological situations such as hernia, post-delivery recovery, muscle dystrophy or sarcopenia. Such an assessment is challenging and requires muscular deformations quantification which have been very scarcely reported in vivo. In the present study, we intended to characterize abdominal wall deformations in passive and active conditions using dynamic MRI combined to a semiautomatic segmentation procedure.
METHODS
Dynamic deformations resulting from three complementary exercises i.e. forced breathing, coughing and Valsalva maneuver were mapped in a transversal abdominal plane and so for twenty healthy volunteers. Real-time dynamic MRI series were acquired at a rate of 182 ms per image, then segmented semi-automatically to follow muscles deformation through each exercise. Circumferential and radial strains of each abdominal muscle were computed from the geometrical characteristics' quantification, namely the medial axis length and the thickness. Muscular radial displacement maps were computed using image registration.
RESULTS
Large variations in circumferential and radial strains were observed for the lateral muscles (LM) but remained low for the rectus abdominis muscles (RA). Contraction phases of each exercise led to LM muscle shortening down to -9.6 ± 5.9% during Valsalva maneuver with a 16.2 ± 9.6% thickness increase. Contraction also led to inward radial displacement of the LM up to 9.9 ± 4.1 mm during coughing. During maximal inhalation, a significant 10.0 ± 6.6% lengthening was quantified for LM while a significant thickness decrease was computed for the whole set of muscles (-14.7 ± 6.6% for LM and -7.3 ± 6.5% for RA). The largest displacement was observed for the medial part of RA (17.9 ± 8.0 mm) whereas the posterior part of LM underwent limited motion (2.8 ± 2.3 mm). Displacement rate and correlation between muscle thickness and medial axis length during each exercise provided insights regarding subject-specific muscle function.
CONCLUSIONS
Dynamic MRI is a promising tool for the assessment of the abdominal wall motion and deformations. The corresponding metrics which have been continuously recorded during the exercises provided global and regional quantitative information. These metrics offer perspectives for a genuine clinical evaluation tool dedicated to the assessment of abdominal muscles function in both healthy subjects and patients.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Abdominal Wall; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Muscle Contraction; Respiration
PubMed: 35231757
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2022.106667 -
Physiotherapy Research International :... Oct 2023Pressure biofeedback is a tool that can detect the movement of a structure and may be used as an indicator of muscle function. It's widely used to measure the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Pressure biofeedback is a tool that can detect the movement of a structure and may be used as an indicator of muscle function. It's widely used to measure the transversus abdominis (TrA) muscle activity. Pressure biofeedback (PBU) monitors the abdominal wall movement by measuring the pressure change during abdominal hollowing and can indirectly evaluate the TrA muscle function, which is considered as a valuable tool. The evaluation of the training of core muscles, including the transversus abdominis, requires a reliable outcome. Various methods using different positions are used to evaluate the transversus abdominis muscle function. However, it is noted that a standard way of evaluation and training still needs to be improved in research and clinical practice. This technical report discusses the optimal position and technique to measure the TrA muscle activity using PBU, with discussions on the merits and demerits of the body positions.
METHODS
The technical report is presented with a literature review of the PBU measurement of TrA and through observation in the clinical practice. The evaluation methods of TrA, including the position to activate and isolate, are discussed in detail.
RESULTS
Training core muscles does not imply TrA activation, and evaluating isolated TrA and multifidus is essential before intervention. The abdominal drawing-in maneuver effectively activates TrA in various evaluation positions of the body, but when using PBUs, it would be valid in a prone position.
DISCUSSION
Different body positions are practiced to train TrA and core muscles using PBU, commonly adopted by practice are in supine. It's noted that most of the studies lack in establishing the effectiveness of the position in evaluating the TrA muscle activity using PBU. The need for insight into an appropriate technique for evaluating TrA activity is addressed in this technical report. This report presents key points on the complete technique and concludes that the prone position is superior to other positions and recommended for measuring and recording the TrA activity using a PBU.
Topics: Humans; Muscle Contraction; Abdominal Muscles; Posture; Pressure; Biofeedback, Psychology
PubMed: 37395304
DOI: 10.1002/pri.2033 -
Chest Oct 2021Ultrasound may be useful to assess the structure, activity, and function of the abdominal muscles in patients who are mechanically ventilated. (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Ultrasound may be useful to assess the structure, activity, and function of the abdominal muscles in patients who are mechanically ventilated.
RESEARCH QUESTION
Does measurement of abdominal muscle thickening on ultrasound in patients who are mechanically ventilated provide clinically relevant information about abdominal muscle function and weaning outcomes?
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS
This study consisted of two parts, a physiological study conducted in healthy subjects and a prospective observational study in patients who were mechanically ventilated. Abdominal muscle thickness and thickening fraction were measured during cough and expiratory efforts in 20 healthy subjects, and prior to and during a spontaneous breathing trial in 57 patients being ventilated.
RESULTS
In healthy subjects, internal oblique and rectus abdominis thickening fraction correlated with pressure generated during expiratory efforts (P < .001). In patients being ventilated, abdominal muscle thickness and thickening fraction were feasible to measure in all patients, and reproducibility was moderately acceptable. During a failed spontaneous breathing trial, thickening fraction of transversus abdominis and internal oblique increased substantially from baseline (13.2% [95% CI, 0.9-24.8] and 7.2% [95% CI, 2.2-13.2], respectively). The combined thickening fraction of transversus abdominis, internal oblique, and rectus abdominis measured during cough was associated with an increased risk of reintubation or reconnection to the ventilator following attempted liberation (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1-4.4 per 10% decrease in thickening fraction).
INTERPRETATION
Abdominal muscle thickening on ultrasound was correlated to the airway pressure generated by expiratory efforts. In patients who were mechanically ventilated, abdominal muscle ultrasound measurements are feasible and moderately reproducible. Among patients who passed a spontaneous breathing trial, reduced abdominal muscle thickening during cough was associated with a high risk of liberation failure.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT03567564; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Abdominal Oblique Muscles; Adult; Aged; Cough; Exhalation; Female; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Male; Maximal Respiratory Pressures; Middle Aged; Pneumonia; Postoperative Care; Prospective Studies; Rectus Abdominis; Reproducibility of Results; Respiration; Respiration, Artificial; Respiratory Insufficiency; Respiratory Mechanics; Thoracic Surgical Procedures; Ultrasonography; Ventilator Weaning
PubMed: 34090872
DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2021.05.053 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Feb 2021The maximal abdominal contraction maneuver (MACM) was designed as an effective and efficient breathing exercise to increase the stability of the spinal joint. However,...
The maximal abdominal contraction maneuver (MACM) was designed as an effective and efficient breathing exercise to increase the stability of the spinal joint. However, it has not been determined whether MACM is more effective and efficient than the maximal expiration method. Thus, the present study was undertaken to investigate whole abdominal muscle thickness changes after MACM. Thirty healthy subjects (17 males and 13 females) participated in this study. An experimental comparison between MACM and the maximal expiration task was conducted by measuring the change of abdominal muscle thickness such as the transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO) and rectus abdominis (RA) using ultrasound images. The results indicated that MACM resulted in significantly greater muscle thickness increases of the TrA and RA than the maximal expiration exercise ( < 0.05). MACM provided better exercise than the maximal expiration exercise in terms of increasing spine stability, at least from a co-contraction perspective.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Breathing Exercises; Exercise; Female; Humans; Male; Muscle Contraction; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 33540623
DOI: 10.3390/medicina57020129 -
Georgian Medical News Jan 2024The separation of the two rectus abdominis muscles along the linea alba is termed diastasis of recti abdominis muscles (DRAM). DRAM is a common health problem in people... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
The separation of the two rectus abdominis muscles along the linea alba is termed diastasis of recti abdominis muscles (DRAM). DRAM is a common health problem in people that are both pregnant and postpartum. With a 100% frequency at gestational week 35, it is extremely frequent during pregnancy. Control and function of the trunk are greatly influenced by the musculature of the abdomen. The existence, extent, and duration of DRAM have been connected to low back and pelvic discomfort however the relationship is not conclusive. It has been proven to weaken abdominal muscles and impair their functioning in lumbo-pelvic stability. Additionally, DRAM has been linked to pelvic floor dysfunction. The mechanical control and function of the abdomen can be compromised by diastasis recti, which compromises the abdominal muscles. This study examined the impact of abdominal exercises and neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the DRAM in postnatal females who underwent Caesarean section. A total of 208 individuals, aged between 20 and 34, who had recti diastasis measuring more than 2.5 cm, underwent screening. They were split into two groups at random. Group B only received abdominal exercises, whereas Group A received NMES in addition to their activities. For a period of 12 weeks, the intervention was given to both groups three times a week. Changes have been recorded before and after the intervention. The pressure biofeedback unit, measuring tape, and vernier caliper were employed to evaluate the outcome measures of inter-recti distance, abdominal muscle strength, and waist-hip ratio, respectively. In every outcome, both groups had a highly significant (p<0.05) improvement. Furthermore, after 12 weeks, group A had improved in all measures with highly significant (p<0.05) intergroup comparisons. In comparison to MNES alone, NMES can have a more significant effect on reducing DRAM in postpartum women when paired with abdominal Exercise.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Young Adult; Abdominal Muscles; Cesarean Section; Diastasis, Muscle; Electric Stimulation; Exercise Therapy; Rectus Abdominis
PubMed: 38501623
DOI: No ID Found