-
Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 2015In order to accurately assess the abdominal muscles, clinicians need valid clinical measures. The double leg lowering test (DLLT) and lower abdominal muscle progression...
BACKGROUND
In order to accurately assess the abdominal muscles, clinicians need valid clinical measures. The double leg lowering test (DLLT) and lower abdominal muscle progression (LAMP) are two common tests of abdominal muscle performance. The purposes of this study were to determine the relation between surface electromyographic (EMG) activity during the DLLT and LAMP levels; hip joint resultant moments and DLLT and LAMP levels; and the two measures of DLLT and LAMP.
METHODS
Ten healthy participants were tested under both conditions. Surface EMG activity of the abdominal muscles was obtained, while pelvic movement was detected simultaneously.
RESULTS
A moderate to strong association was found between rectus abdominus muscle activity and a moderate association with the external obliques with both test levels. For the internal oblique/transversus abdominus, a moderate and weak association was found with the DLLT and LAMP, respectively. A very strong association existed between the hip resultant joint moments (RJM) and the DLLT, while there was a weak correlation between hip RJM and the LAMP. No significant correlation was found between the DLLT and LAMP grades.
CONCLUSIONS
This finding suggests that these tests may measure different qualities of muscle performance and provides preliminary support for their use. Further evaluation of these assessments with clinical populations is necessary.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Action Potentials; Adult; Biomechanical Phenomena; Electromyography; Female; Healthy Volunteers; Hip Joint; Humans; Isometric Contraction; Male; Muscle Strength; Posture; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Young Adult
PubMed: 26467996
DOI: 10.3109/09593985.2015.1062945 -
Journal of Manipulative and... Jun 2015The purpose of this study was to determine the effect size in measurable change of abdominal musculature morphology using ultrasonography in postpartum women within 1... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect size in measurable change of abdominal musculature morphology using ultrasonography in postpartum women within 1 month of a healthy, vaginal delivery.
METHODS
One hundred fifty-six participants were recruited for this study. B-mode ultrasound imaging was used to measure abdominal muscle thickness on 80 nulliparous women and 76 mothers who had delivered within the past 4 weeks. Measures were taken for the upper and lower rectus abdominus, external and internal obliques, and transversus abdominus at rest.
RESULTS
Statistically significant differences were found in the thickness of the rectus abdominus muscle at both sites; upper (P < .0001) and lower (P < .0001) as well as the internal oblique (P < .0001). All 3 muscles were thinner in postpartum participants (8.29 ± 1.83 mm, 8.89 ± 2.29 mm, and 7.06 ± 1.82 mm, respectively) within the first month of delivery than in controls (10.82 ± 1.93 mm, 11.13 ± 2.38 mm, and 8.36 ± 1.87 mm, respectively). Large effect sizes were found for the influence of pregnancy on the rectus muscle segments (1.35 for the upper rectus abdominus and 1.00 for the lower rectus abdominus) and a medium effect size for the internal oblique (0.71). No significant differences were observed in the remaining 2 muscles.
CONCLUSION
This study showed that there are differences in morphology of the abdominal muscles in pregnant women vs nonpregnant controls. The large effect sizes reported may provide the basis for future studies examining relationships between morphology, functional change, and back pain during pregnancy.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Adult; Female; Humans; Muscle Contraction; Parity; Pelvic Floor; Postpartum Period; Rectus Abdominis; Reference Values; Ultrasonography; Young Adult
PubMed: 26189917
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2015.06.005 -
Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal... 2018The core stability theory has emphasized symmetric co-contraction of both anterolateral abdominal muscles (AAM), but there is a lack of research on whether the symmetric...
BACKGROUND
The core stability theory has emphasized symmetric co-contraction of both anterolateral abdominal muscles (AAM), but there is a lack of research on whether the symmetric co-contraction of AAM is related to the postural stability of the trunk.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the symmetric co-contraction of bilateral AAM and trunk angular displacement during sudden trunk perturbation.
METHODS
Eighteen subjects were asked to maintain half-seated posture against backward trunk perturbation. Muscle thicknesses of external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and transversus abdominis (TrA) were measured using ultrasound imaging. 3D motion analysis system was utilized to calculate the amount of trunk angular displacement during perturbation.
RESULTS
There were significant differences of side-to-side muscle thickness in TrA (P= 0.02) and EO (P= 0.02), but the difference disappeared during sudden external loading. No significant correlation was identified between the asymmetry of abdominal muscle thickness and the amount of trunk angular displacement.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that the side-to-side asymmetry of AAM measured in a static position is rarely related to the core stability because the asymmetry can disappear during trunk stabilization.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Adult; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Male; Muscle Contraction; Posture; Torso; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 30010100
DOI: 10.3233/BMR-170936 -
Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology Apr 2016The aim of this study was to assess the intra-session and inter-rater reliability of shear modulus measured in abdominal muscles during two commonly used trunk stability... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
The aim of this study was to assess the intra-session and inter-rater reliability of shear modulus measured in abdominal muscles during two commonly used trunk stability exercises. Thirty healthy volunteers performed a series of abdominal hollow and abdominal brace tasks. Supersonic shear imaging was used to measure the shear modulus (considered an index of muscle tension) of the four anterior trunk muscles: obliquus externus abdominis, obliquus internus abdominis, transversus abdominis and rectus abdominis. Because of measurement artifacts, internus abdominis and transversus abdominis data were not analyzed for 36.7% and 26.7% of the participants, respectively. These participants exhibited thicker superficial fat layers than the others. For the remaining participants, fair to excellent intra-session and inter-rater reliability was observed with moderate to high intra-class coefficients (0.45-0.97) and low to moderate standard error of measurement values (0.38-3.53 kPa). Reliability values were consistently greater for superficial than for deeper muscles.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Adolescent; Elastic Modulus; Elasticity Imaging Techniques; Exercise Therapy; Female; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Male; Physical Conditioning, Human; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Torso
PubMed: 26746381
DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2015.12.002 -
Journal of Applied Physiology... Jan 1993The responses of the diaphragm, external oblique, and transversus abdominis muscles to hyperoxic hypercapnia and isocapnic hypoxia were studied in four awake dogs to...
The responses of the diaphragm, external oblique, and transversus abdominis muscles to hyperoxic hypercapnia and isocapnic hypoxia were studied in four awake dogs to test the hypothesis that central and peripheral chemoreceptor inputs result in different patterns of respiratory muscle activation. The dogs were trained to lie quietly in place, and electromyographic (EMG) discharges of the diaphragm (EMGdi), external oblique (EMGeo), and transversus abdominis (EMGta) were recorded from chronically implanted electrodes. Both hypercapnia and hypoxia recruited EMGeo and EMGta activity, but at comparable levels of minute volume of ventilation the EMG activity of the abdominal muscles was greater during hypercapnia than during hypoxia. However the two chemical stimuli also resulted in different tidal volume (VT) and respiratory frequency responses at any given minute volume of ventilation. When EMG activity was reanalyzed as a function of VT, EMGeo and EMGta were the same for a given VT whether induced by hypercapnia or hypoxia, but EMGdi was consistently greater during hypoxia than during hypercapnia. When the vagus nerves were blocked by cooling exteriorized cervical vagal loops, all abdominal muscle EMG activity was abolished. The findings support the concept that stimulation of the central and peripheral chemoreceptors results in asymmetric activation of the inspiratory and expiratory respiratory muscles. The findings also indicate that afferent vagal stimuli play an important facilitatory role in activation of the abdominal expiratory muscles.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Animals; Carbon Dioxide; Chemoreceptor Cells; Diaphragm; Dogs; Electromyography; Hypoxia; Motor Neurons; Respiration; Respiratory Muscles; Tidal Volume; Vagus Nerve
PubMed: 8444687
DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1993.74.1.16 -
Journal of Electromyography and... Feb 2015To treat low-back pain, various spinal stability exercises are commonly used to improve trunk muscle function and strength. Because human movement for normal daily...
To treat low-back pain, various spinal stability exercises are commonly used to improve trunk muscle function and strength. Because human movement for normal daily activity occurs in multi-dimensions, the importance of exercise in multi-dimensions or on unstable surfaces has been emphasized. Recently, a motorized rotating platform (MRP) for facilitating multi-dimensions dynamic movement was introduced for clinical use. However, the abdominal muscle activity with this device has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to compare the abdominal muscle activity (rectus abdominis, external and internal oblique muscles) during an active single-leg-hold (SLH) exercise on a floor (stable surface), foam roll, and motorized rotating platform (MRP). Thirteen healthy male subjects participated in this study. Using electromyography, the abdominal muscle activity was measured while the subjects performed SLH exercises on floor (stable surface), foam roll, and MRP. There were significant differences in the abdominal muscle activities among conditions (P<.05), except for left EO (P>.05) (Fig. 2). After the Bonferroni correction, however, no significant differences among conditions remained, except for differences in both side IO muscle activity between the floor and foam roll conditions (padj<0.017). The findings suggest that performing the SLH exercises on a foam roll and MRP is more effective increased activities of both side of RA and IO, and Rt. EO compared to floor condition. However, there were no significant differences in abdominal muscles activity in the multiple comparison between conditions (mean difference were smaller than the standard deviation in the abdominal muscle activities) (padj>0.017), except for differences in both side IO muscle activity between the floor (stable surface) and foam roll (padj<0.017) (effect size: 0.79/0.62 (non-supporting/supporting leg) for foam-roll versus floor).
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Adult; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Humans; Leg; Low Back Pain; Male; Muscle Contraction
PubMed: 25066516
DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2014.07.001 -
Manual Therapy May 2001This study investigated the pattern of recruitment of the abdominal muscles during the abdominal hollowing manoeuvre (AHM), in four point kneeling and prone. Muscle...
This study investigated the pattern of recruitment of the abdominal muscles during the abdominal hollowing manoeuvre (AHM), in four point kneeling and prone. Muscle activity was detected and recorded by surface electromyography (EMG), in 20 healthy subjects, 8 male and 12 female, aged between 19 and 30 during both maximal activity, and the AHM. The degree of activation during hollowing was expressed as a percentage of maximal. There was activity in the internal abdominal oblique (IO) during all hollowing manoeuvres, in both starting positions, whilst only two subjects showed any activity in rectus abdominis (RA). Simultaneous activity in IO and EO occurred both in four point kneeling (45% of the subjects) and especially in prone (75% of the subjects). Across both positions IO activity was significantly greater than EO. There was no significant difference in EO or IO activity comparing across positions. These results suggest that the AHM when performed in four point kneeling and prone always activates IO and rarely activates RA, whilst elimination of activity in EO is more difficult to achieve, particularly in prone. Isolated activity in the deep abdominal muscles may not always be achievable in these starting positions.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Electromyography; Female; Humans; Male; Muscle Contraction; Posture; Prone Position
PubMed: 11414777
DOI: 10.1054/math.2000.0376 -
Journal of Morphology Aug 2009All tetrapods have the same four basic abdominal hypaxial muscle layers that wrap around the abdomen between the pelvis, ribcage, and spine. However, the marsupials and... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
All tetrapods have the same four basic abdominal hypaxial muscle layers that wrap around the abdomen between the pelvis, ribcage, and spine. However, the marsupials and our immediate mammalian ancestors have epipubic bones extending anteriorly into the ventral hypaxial layers with two additional muscles connecting them to the ventral midline and femur. Studies of two marsupials have shown that all of the abdominal hypaxials play a part bilaterally in resting ventilation and during locomotion there is an asymmetrical pattern of activity as the hypaxial muscles form a cross-couplet linkage that uses the epipubic bone as a lever to provide long-axis support of the body between diagonal limb couplets during each step. The cross-couplet epipubic lever system defines the earliest mammals and is lost in placental mammals. To expand our understanding of the evolution of mammalian abdominal muscle function and loco-ventilatory integration we tested the generality of the cross-couplet system in marsupials and conducted the first formal studies of hypaxial abdominal motor patterns in generalized placental mammals focusing on a representative rodent and insectivore. These new data reveal 1) that continuous abdominal muscle tonus during resting ventilation and a 1:1 breath to step cycle during locomotion appear to be the basal condition for mammals, 2) that the loss of epipubic bones in eutherians is associated with a shift from the cross-couplet dominated motor pattern of marsupials to a shoulder-to-pelvis system with unilateral activation of abdominal muscles during locomotion and 3) that hypaxial function in generalized eutherians is more similar to marsupials than cursorial mammals.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Animals; Locomotion; Models, Biological; Opossums; Pelvic Bones; Pulmonary Ventilation; Respiration; Rest; Running
PubMed: 19274744
DOI: 10.1002/jmor.10735 -
Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal... Nov 2016Based on previous studies indicating that core stabilization exercises accompanied by abdominal drawing-in maneuvers increase the thickness of the transversus abdominis...
BACKGROUND
Based on previous studies indicating that core stabilization exercises accompanied by abdominal drawing-in maneuvers increase the thickness of the transversus abdominis muscle.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the measurements of abdominal muscle thicknesses during running in place in a limited area with the abdominal drawing-in maneuver.
METHODS
The study classified the subjects into two experimental groups: the training group (M = 2, F = 13), and the control group (M = 2, F = 13). The training group performed three sets of running in place in a limited area with abdominal drawing-in maneuvers each time, three times a week for six weeks. The abdominal muscle thicknesses of the subjects were measured using ultrasonography.
RESULTS
Comparing the training group's abdominal muscle thickness before and after this study, there was a statistical significance in all of the external obliquus abdominis, the internal obliquus abdominis, and the transversus abdominis. In particular, thicknesses of external obliquus abdominis and internal obliquus increased remarkably.
CONCLUSIONS
Running in place in a limited area accompanied by abdominal drawing-in maneuvers increased the thickness of the deep abdominal muscles that are the basis of trunk stabilization.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Adult; Chronic Pain; Exercise Therapy; Female; Humans; Low Back Pain; Male; Muscle Contraction; Running; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 27062465
DOI: 10.3233/BMR-160686 -
The American Journal of Gastroenterology Apr 2001Recurrent episodes of bloating and visible abdominal distension are common and distressing in irritable bowel syndrome, but the mechanisms are unknown. Patients often...
OBJECTIVE
Recurrent episodes of bloating and visible abdominal distension are common and distressing in irritable bowel syndrome, but the mechanisms are unknown. Patients often note that the distension is most pronounced in the upright posture, suggesting that the bloating may be the result of a decrease or absence of the normal rise in electromyograph activity in the abdominal wall muscles when standing. There are no reports of noninvasive electromyograph recordings of abdominal wall muscles in irritable bowel syndrome. We examined the hypothesis that abdominal distension is the result of relaxation of anterior abdominal wall musculature.
METHODS
Studies were performed on patients with irritable bowel syndrome and a history of visible distension (n = 11, mean age 48.6 yr, body mass index 24.8) and normal volunteers (n = 13, mean age 39.9 yr, body mass index 24.6). Surface recordings of muscle activity were made while subjects were lying, performing voluntary contraction of the abdominal wall, and standing. The examiners were blind as to the clinical status of the subjects.
RESULTS
There were no differences in abdominal wall muscle activity (by electromyograph voltage) when comparing patients with irritable bowel syndrome to normal volunteers (e.g., relaxed lower abdomen supine mean electromyograph voltage in irritable bowel syndrome was 14.0 vs 14.6 in controls, p = 0.7, and relaxed lower abdomen standing in irritable bowel syndrome was 29.6 vs 25.2 in controls, p = 0.4). There was increased activity in both groups when contracting the muscles and when standing.
CONCLUSIONS
Patterns of abdominal wall muscle activity do not differ between normal subjects and patients with irritable bowel syndrome. However, there is a clear increase in muscle activity in the standing position. Episodic distension is unlikely to be due to permanent anterior abdominal muscle weakness or a persistent inability of the muscles to activate with standing in irritable bowel syndrome.
Topics: Abdominal Muscles; Adult; Colonic Diseases, Functional; Electromyography; Female; Humans; Middle Aged
PubMed: 11316160
DOI: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2001.03761.x