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Journal of Bodywork and Movement... Apr 2024Various exercise programs are used to treat lateral abdominal muscle (LAM) impairments in people with low back pain. Factors comprising these programs include exercise... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Various exercise programs are used to treat lateral abdominal muscle (LAM) impairments in people with low back pain. Factors comprising these programs include exercise type, session time, frequency, and program duration. However, specific clinical guidance about optimal exercise prescription is lacking.
OBJECTIVES
To perform a dose-response analysis on exercise prescription variables for LAM thickness and activation as measured by ultrasound imaging.
DESIGN
Systematic review METHOD: Databases were searched from their inception for studies examining the association between exercise interventions and LAM thickness/activation measured by ultrasound imaging in healthy individuals. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Brigg's Institute critical appraisal tools. For each muscle, subgroup analyses were performed to determine the dose response of exercise prescription variables for LAM thickness and activation. Where there was insufficient data for subgroup analyses, data was narratively synthesised.
RESULTS
Fourteen studies comprising 395 participants were included. Statistical and narrative synthesis revealed specific local abdominal exercises, programs from four weeks duration, three sessions per week and sessions of ≥30 min were associated with greatest improvements to LAM thickness. Only the variables exercise type, program duration and session frequency showed a significant between groups difference for the subgroup analysis. The main limitation was inability to perform subgroup analyses for all variables across all muscles measured at rest and during contraction, due to non-reporting of data.
CONCLUSION
This review provides preliminary guidance to practitioners on how the LAM respond to different exercise dosages. Future research should trial these findings.
Topics: Humans; Abdominal Muscles; Exercise Therapy; Low Back Pain; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 38763566
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2024.01.016 -
Neurourology and Urodynamics Feb 2020To measure the neuromuscular activation of the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles concurrently with vaginal closure forces induced during a hypopressive exercise (HE)...
AIM
To measure the neuromuscular activation of the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles concurrently with vaginal closure forces induced during a hypopressive exercise (HE) and to identify the contribution of the HEs sequences (posture and maneuver) in the muscle's activation.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study design was employed. Sixty-six women who had participated in a physical therapy program focused on HEs were recruited. Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) activation was measured using surface electromyography (sEMG) in supine and in the orthostatic position, and vaginal closure force was measured through vaginal dynamometry in supine. Activation of the abdominal, gluteal, and hip adductor muscles was measured using sEMG. Maximum effort voluntary contractions (MVCs) of the PFMs and reference contractions of the abdominal and hip muscles were acquired for normalization purposes. A HE was then performed in a supine position with one leg raised, then in an orthostatic position.
RESULTS
During the supine HE, the peak PFM sEMG amplitude was 74.4% to 86.5% (49.6%-109.6%) of MVC, the peak vaginal closure force was between 51.2% and 55.7% (95.5%-382.9%) of MVC, and the muscles of the lateral abdominal wall were activated between 25.4% and 35.3% of the reference contraction. During the orthostatic HE, PFM activation was 61.4% (40.1%-105.6%) of MVC, and the lateral abdominal wall muscles contracted at 22.8% of the reference activation level.
CONCLUSIONS
The PFMs, abdominal, gluteal, and adductor muscles are activated during the performance of a HE. The activation level of the PFMs and abdominal muscles is likely insufficient to result in strength gains; however, they could have an endurance effect.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Electromyography; Exercise Therapy; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Muscle Contraction; Muscle Strength; Muscle, Skeletal; Pelvic Floor; Pelvic Floor Disorders; Physical Therapy Modalities; Posture; Vagina
PubMed: 31985114
DOI: 10.1002/nau.24284 -
Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal... 2022To restore core stability, abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM), abdominal bracing (AB), and dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) have been employed but outcome...
Comparison of core stabilization techniques on ultrasound imaging of the diaphragm, and core muscle thickness and external abdominal oblique muscle electromyography activity.
BACKGROUND
To restore core stability, abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM), abdominal bracing (AB), and dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) have been employed but outcome measures varied and one intervention was not superior over another.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the differential effects of ADIM, AB, and DNS on diaphragm movement, abdominal muscle thickness difference, and external abdominal oblique (EO) electromyography (EMG) amplitude.
METHODS
Forty-one participants with core instability participated in this study. The subjects performed ADIM, AB, and DNS in random order. A Simi Aktisys and Pressure Biofeedback Unit (PBU) were utilized to measure core stability, an ultrasound was utilized to measure diaphragm movement and measure abdominal muscles thickness and EMG was utilized to measure EO amplitude. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted at P< 0.05.
RESULTS
Diaphragm descending movement and transverse abdominis (TrA) and internal abdominal oblique (IO) thickness differences were significantly increased in DNS compared to ADIM and AB (P< 0.05). EO amplitude was significantly increased in AB compared to ADIM, and DNS.
CONCLUSIONS
DNS was the best technique to provide balanced co-activation of the diaphragm and TrA with relatively less contraction of EO and subsequently producing motor control for efficient core stabilization.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Abdominal Oblique Muscles; Diaphragm; Electromyography; Humans; Muscle Contraction; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 34657872
DOI: 10.3233/BMR-210051 -
Manual Therapy Dec 2009The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of the rectus abdominis (RA), external abdominal oblique (EO), and transversus abdominis/internal abdominal oblique...
The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of the rectus abdominis (RA), external abdominal oblique (EO), and transversus abdominis/internal abdominal oblique (TrA/IO) muscles during abdominal hollowing (AH) in four positions: crook lying, prone lying, four-point kneeling, and wall support standing. Thirty-two healthy participants, aged 21.3+/-0.8 years were recruited. They were instructed to perform maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and AH. The electromyography (EMG) data of each muscle during AH were normalized as a percentage of MVC. During AH in all four starting positions, significant differences were found in the EMG activity of RA, EO, and TrA/IO (p<0.001). The TrA/IO exhibited the highest while the RA exhibited the lowest EMG activity. Among the four different starting positions, only the TrA/IO showed significant difference in mean EMG activity (p<0.001). The results suggest that all four starting positions can facilitate TrA/IO activity with minimal activity from RA and EO.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Analysis of Variance; Electromyography; Female; Humans; Male; Muscle Contraction; Posture; Statistics, Nonparametric; Young Adult
PubMed: 19251466
DOI: 10.1016/j.math.2008.12.009 -
World Journal of Urology Jun 2013Urethral pressure increases during voluntary pelvic floor (PF) muscle contractions in healthy women. As PF and abdominal muscle activity is coordinated, this study aimed... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
PURPOSE
Urethral pressure increases during voluntary pelvic floor (PF) muscle contractions in healthy women. As PF and abdominal muscle activity is coordinated, this study aimed to determine whether specific abdominal muscle actions also change urethral pressure.
METHODS
Urethral pressures were measured in seven healthy women during lower abdominal in-drawing, abdominal bulging and PF muscle contractions, with the bladder empty and filled to 250 ml. A repeated measures multiple analysis of variance compared vesical, rectal and urethral pressure changes between bladder volumes and the three tasks.
RESULTS
Urethral pressures increased by a similar amount during PF muscle contractions and abdominal in-drawing (p = 0.94) and did not differ between bladder status. During abdominal bulging, urethral pressures decreased by 12.6 (18.2) cmH2O (full bladder) and 18.1 (11.5) cmH2O (empty bladder) and were different from the other two manoeuvres (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that specific abdominal actions are associated with increased or decreased urethral pressures, consistent with strategies for continence and voiding.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Adult; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Muscle Contraction; Pelvic Floor; Pressure; Urethra; Urinary Bladder; Urination; Urodynamics
PubMed: 23192396
DOI: 10.1007/s00345-012-0995-x -
Journal of Sport Rehabilitation May 2013Coactivation of abdominal and pelvic-floor muscles (PFM) is an issue considered by researchers recently. Electromyography (EMG) studies have shown that the... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
CONTEXT
Coactivation of abdominal and pelvic-floor muscles (PFM) is an issue considered by researchers recently. Electromyography (EMG) studies have shown that the abdominal-muscle activity is a normal response to PFM activity, and increase in EMG activity of the PFM concomitant with abdominal-muscle contraction was also reported.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in EMG activity of the deep abdominal muscles during abdominal-muscle contraction (abdominal hollowing and bracing) with and without concomitant PFM contraction in healthy and low-back-pain (LBP) subjects.
DESIGN
A 2 × 2 repeated-measures design.
SETTING
Laboratory.
PARTICIPANTS
30 subjects (15 with LBP, 15 without LBP).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Peak rectified EMG of abdominal muscles.
RESULTS
No difference in EMG of abdominal muscles with and without concomitant PFM contraction in abdominal hollowing (P = .84) and abdominal bracing (P = .53). No difference in EMG signal of abdominal muscles with and without PFM contraction between LBP and healthy subjects in both abdominal hollowing (P = .88) and abdominal bracing (P = .98) maneuvers.
CONCLUSION
Adding PFM contraction had no significant effect on abdominal-muscle contraction in subjects with and without LBP.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Adolescent; Adult; Electromyography; Female; Humans; Low Back Pain; Male; Muscle Contraction; Pelvic Floor; Young Adult
PubMed: 23295547
DOI: 10.1123/jsr.22.2.108 -
Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation 2019The progression of labor and delivery of the fetus is dependent upon uterine contractions and the voluntary effort of abdominal muscle contractions. A good monitor of...
BACKGROUND
The progression of labor and delivery of the fetus is dependent upon uterine contractions and the voluntary effort of abdominal muscle contractions. A good monitor of uterine contractions and pushing is necessary for obstetrical care. Electromyography (EMG) is the underlying basis for contractility of muscle including the myometrium.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between EMG activity of uterine and abdominal muscles and the duration of the 2nd stage of labor in pregnant women.
METHODS
EMG of both uterine and abdominal muscles was simultaneously recorded from electrodes placed on the abdominal surface of 45 active 2nd stage-laboring nulliparous patients. EMG was recorded using filters to separate uterine and abdominal EMG signals, and various EMG signal parameters were analyzed. The duration of the 2nd stage of labor and other maternal and fetal characteristics were also recorded.
RESULTS
Uterine EMG bursts precede abdominal bursts and are accompanied by feelings of "urge to push" by the patients. Abdominal root mean square (RMS) and power, but not uterine EMG parameters, are reduced (p< 0.005) in patients with longer labors and linear regression analysis demonstrated a negative correlation to the duration of 2nd stage of labor (p < 0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis of clinical characteristics (fetal weight, body mass index, placental location, etc.) and parameters of EMG showed that only abdominal RMS is negatively correlated with the duration of labor.
CONCLUSIONS
(1) Uterine and abdominal EMG activities reflect the expulsive involuntary (uterine) and voluntary (abdominal) muscular activities during the 2nd stage of labor. (2) RMS and power of abdominal EMG diminish with longer labor when uterine EMG intensities are similar. (3) Recording of uterine and abdominal muscle activity provides objective evaluation of the muscle activity during the 2nd stage of labor and may aid in the evaluation of any interventions.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Adult; Electromyography; Female; Humans; Labor Stage, Second; Labor, Obstetric; Pregnancy; Uterine Contraction; Uterus
PubMed: 31039575
DOI: 10.1159/000499493 -
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine &... Feb 2018The aims of this study were to research the amplitude and median frequency characteristics of selected abdominal, back, and hip muscles of healthy subjects during a...
The aims of this study were to research the amplitude and median frequency characteristics of selected abdominal, back, and hip muscles of healthy subjects during a prone bridging endurance test, based on surface electromyography (sEMG), (a) to determine if the prone bridging test is a valid field test to measure abdominal muscle fatigue, and (b) to evaluate if the current method of administrating the prone bridging test is reliable. Thirty healthy subjects participated in this experiment. The sEMG activity of seven abdominal, back, and hip muscles was bilaterally measured. Normalized median frequencies were computed from the EMG power spectra. The prone bridging tests were repeated on separate days to evaluate inter and intratester reliability. Significant differences in normalized median frequency slope (NMF ) values between several abdominal, back, and hip muscles could be demonstrated. Moderate-to-high correlation coefficients were shown between NMF values and endurance time. Multiple backward linear regression revealed that the test endurance time could only be significantly predicted by the NMF of the rectus abdominis. Statistical analysis showed excellent reliability (ICC=0.87-0.89). The findings of this study support the validity and reliability of the prone bridging test for evaluating abdominal muscle fatigue.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Adult; Back Muscles; Electromyography; Exercise Test; Female; Hip; Humans; Male; Muscle Fatigue; Prone Position; Reproducibility of Results; Young Adult
PubMed: 28544083
DOI: 10.1111/sms.12919 -
Journal of Electromyography and... Oct 2018Abdominal exercise has been advocated to improve the protection of the spine and neuromuscular efficiency of the limb movements. The purpose of this study was to examine...
Abdominal exercise has been advocated to improve the protection of the spine and neuromuscular efficiency of the limb movements. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of enhanced contraction of internal oblique and transversus abdominis (IO/TrA) on the activity level of the hip and posterior thigh muscles during therapeutic hip exercises. Twenty healthy females were required to perform eight hip exercises under two conditions, natural versus enhanced IO/TrA contraction conditions. Muscle activity of gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae and biceps femoris of the exercising leg was measured by surface electromyography during hip exercises, and expressed in percentage normalized to the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC). The activity levels of the gluteal and posterior thigh muscles recorded under natural and enhanced IO/TrA conditions were compared. IO/TrA was found to have activated at the range of 2.7%-16.1% and 6.3%-24.1% of MVIC when hip exercises were executed under natural and enhanced conditions respectively. Enhanced IO/TrA contraction resulted in significantly greater activity in gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and bicep femoris at various phases of hip extension and clam exercises, single leg sit-to-stand and pelvic drop exercise (increased by 1.7-7.2% of MVIC). These findings indicate the presence of coactivation of the abdominal and hip muscles when performing the free active hip exercises. Further studies are recommended to investigate the efficacy of this muscle coactivation in improving the clinical outcome of therapeutic hip exercises.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Adult; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Female; Hip Joint; Humans; Isometric Contraction; Lower Extremity; Male; Middle Aged
PubMed: 29909357
DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2018.06.005 -
Manual Therapy May 2005Various exercises are used to retrain the abdominal muscles in the management of low back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders. However, few studies have directly...
Various exercises are used to retrain the abdominal muscles in the management of low back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders. However, few studies have directly investigated the activity of all the abdominal muscles or the recruitment of regions of the abdominal muscles during these manoeuvres. This study examined the activity of different regions of transversus abdominis (TrA), obliquus internus (OI) and externus abdominis (OE), and rectus abdominis (RA), and movement of the lumbar spine, pelvis and abdomen during inward movement of the lower abdominal wall, abdominal bracing, pelvic tilting, and inward movement of the lower and upper abdominal wall. Inward movement of the lower abdominal wall in supine produced greater activity of TrA compared to OI, OE and RA. During posterior pelvic tilting, middle OI was most active and with abdominal bracing, OE was predominantly recruited. Regions of TrA were recruited differentially and an inverse relationship between lumbopelvic motion and TrA electromyography (EMG) was found. This study indicates that inward movement of the lower abdominal wall in supine produces the most independent activity of TrA relative to the other abdominal muscles, recruitment varies between regions of TrA, and observation of abdominal and lumbopelvic motion may assist in evaluation of exercise performance.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Electromyography; Exercise Therapy; Female; Humans; Isometric Contraction; Low Back Pain; Male; Pelvic Floor; Pilot Projects; Range of Motion, Articular; Supine Position
PubMed: 15922235
DOI: 10.1016/j.math.2004.08.011