scholarly journals Spinal stiffness changes throughout the respiratory cycle

2003 ◽  
Vol 95 (4) ◽  
pp. 1467-1475 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Shirley ◽  
P. W. Hodges ◽  
A. E. M. Eriksson ◽  
S. C. Gandevia
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Spinous Process ◽  
Lumbar Vertebrae ◽  
Trunk Muscle ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Abdominal Pressure ◽  
Abdominal Muscles ◽  
Electromyographic Activity ◽  
Spinal Stiffness ◽  
Wall Stiffness

Posteroanterior stiffness of the lumbar spine is influenced by factors, including trunk muscle activity and intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). Because these factors vary with breathing, this study investigated whether stiffness is modulated in a cyclical manner with respiration. A further aim was to investigate the relationship between stiffness and IAP or abdominal and paraspinal muscle activity. Stiffness was measured from force-displacement responses of a posteroanterior force applied over the spinous process of L2and L4. Recordings were made of IAP and electromyographic activity from L4/L2erector spinae, abdominal muscles, and chest wall. Stiffness was measured with the lung volume held at the extremes of tidal volume and at greater and lesser volumes. Stiffness at L4and L2increased above base-level values at functional residual capacity (L214.9 N/mm and L415.3 N/mm) with both inspiratory and expiratory efforts. The increase was related to the respiratory effort and was greatest during maximum expiration (L224.9 N/mm and L423.9 N/mm). The results indicate that changes in trunk muscle activity and IAP with respiratory efforts modulate spinal stiffness. In addition, the diaphragm may augment spinal stiffness via attachment of its crural fibers to the lumbar vertebrae.

scholarly journals Changes in intra-abdominal pressure during postural and respiratory activation of the human diaphragm

2000 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 967-976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul W. Hodges ◽  
Simon C. Gandevia
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Cavity ◽  
Limb Movement ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Transversus Abdominis ◽  
Trunk Muscles ◽  
Abdominal Pressure ◽  
Abdominal Muscles ◽  
Electromyographic Activity ◽  
Repetitive Movement ◽  
The Stability

In humans, when the stability of the trunk is challenged in a controlled manner by repetitive movement of a limb, activity of the diaphragm becomes tonic but is also modulated at the frequency of limb movement. In addition, the tonic activity is modulated by respiration. This study investigated the mechanical output of these components of diaphragm activity. Recordings were made of costal diaphragm, abdominal, and erector spinae muscle electromyographic activity; intra-abdominal, intrathoracic, and transdiaphragmatic pressures; and motion of the rib cage, abdomen, and arm. During limb movement the diaphragm and transversus abdominis were tonically active with added phasic modulation at the frequencies of both respiration and limb movement. Activity of the other trunk muscles was not modulated by respiration. Intra-abdominal pressure was increased during the period of limb movement in proportion to the reactive forces from the movement. These results show that coactivation of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles causes a sustained increase in intra-abdominal pressure, whereas inspiration and expiration are controlled by opposing activity of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles to vary the shape of the pressurized abdominal cavity.

scholarly journals Comparative need for spinal stabilisation between quadrupedal and bipedal locomotion

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Valentin ◽  
T.F. Licka
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Gluteus Maximus ◽  
Maximum Activity ◽  
Trunk Muscle ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Abdominal Muscles ◽  
As Species ◽  
Pelvic Limb ◽  
Species Specific

Sheep are commonly used as an animal model for the human lumbar spine, but similarities in trunk muscle activity of humans and sheep during functional tasks, such as locomotion have not been investigated. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate trunk and pelvic limb muscle activity during walk and run/trot gaits in man and sheep. Electromyography of the muscles erector spinae (ES), gluteus maximus (GM), rectus abdominis (RA), obliquus externus (OE) and obliquus internus (OI) were collected in 24 humans and 15 sheep during treadmill walk and run/trot. Kinematic data from the tarsus (human) or metatarsus (sheep) were obtained to define motion cycles and determine stride characteristics. Mean and range of normalised muscle activity were calculated. In phasic muscles, the occurrence of the maximum was reported. At walk, mean activity was greater in humans for all three abdominal muscles (all P<0.01). At the run/trot, mean activity of ES was significantly greater in sheep (P<0.05) and mean activity of right OI was greater in humans (P=0.016). At the walk, range of ES activity was significantly greater in humans compared to sheep (P<0.01), but significantly smaller in humans in RA and right OE (P<0.05). At the run/trot, range of activity was significantly greater in humans compared to sheep in all muscles (P<0.05), except right RA and OI. Compared to humans, occurrence of maximum activity was earlier in sheep for ES right during walk (P=0.005), and later for GM during walk and run/trot (P<0.001). The results suggest that numerous differences in trunk muscle activity exist between man and sheep during treadmill walk and run/trot, and that these differences are muscle-and gait-specific. Trunk muscle activity should therefore be regarded as species-specific which suggests differences in stabilisation strategies. This should be taken into consideration when extrapolating animal model findings to the human spine.

Comparison among low intensity bridge exercises using suspension devices based on muscle activity and subjective difficulty

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Sang-Yeol Lee ◽  
Se-Yeon Park
Keyword(s):  
Inclination Angle ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Trunk Muscles ◽  
Oblique Muscle ◽  
Abdominal Muscles ◽  
Internal Oblique Muscle ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Erector Spinae Muscle ◽  
Internal Oblique

BACKGROUND: Recent clinical studies have revealed the advantages of using suspension devices. Although the supine, lateral, and forward leaning bridge exercises are low-intensity exercises with suspension devices, there is a lack of studies directly comparing exercise progression by measuring muscular activity and subjective difficulty. OBJECTIVE: To identify how the variations in the bridge exercise affects trunk muscle activity, the present study investigated changes in neuromuscular activation during low-intensity bridge exercises. We furthermore explored whether the height of the suspension point affects muscle activation and subjective difficulty. METHODS: Nineteen asymptomatic male participants were included. Three bridge exercise positions, supine bridge (SB), lateral bridge (LB), forward leaning (FL), and two exercise angles (15 and 30 degrees) were administered, thereby comparing six bridge exercise conditions with suspension devices. Surface electromyography and subjective difficulty data were collected. RESULTS: The rectus abdominis activity was significantly higher with the LB and FL exercises compared with the SB exercise (p< 0.05). The erector spinae muscle activity was significantly higher with the SB and LB exercises, compared with the FL exercise (p< 0.05). The LB exercise significantly increased the internal oblique muscle activity, compared with other exercise variations (p< 0.05). The inclination angle of the exercise only affected the internal oblique muscle and subjective difficulty, which were significantly higher at 30 degrees compared with 15 degrees (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Relatively higher inclination angle was not effective in overall activation of the trunk muscles; however, different bridge-type exercises could selectively activate the trunk muscles. The LB and SB exercises could be good options for stimulating the internal oblique abdominis, and the erector spinae muscle, while the FL exercise could minimize the erector spinae activity and activate the abdominal muscles.

scholarly journals Alteration in HDEMG Spatial Parameters of Trunk Muscle Due to Handle Design during Pushing

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (19) ◽  
pp. 6646
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Toner ◽  
Jeremy Rickards ◽  
Kenneth Seaman ◽  
Usha Kuruganti
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Trunk Muscle ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Horizontal Orientation ◽  
Low Back Injuries ◽  
Spatial Parameters ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
Pushing And Pulling

Previous research identifies that pushing and pulling is responsible for approximately 9–18% of all low back injuries. Additionally, the handle design of a cart being pushed can dramatically alter a worker’s capacity to push (≅9.5%). Surprisingly little research has examined muscle activation of the low back and its role in muscle function. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of handle design combination of pushing a platform truck cart on trunk muscle activity. Twenty participants (10 males and 10 females, mean age = 24.3 ± 4.3 years) pushed 475 lbs using six different handle combinations involving handle orientation (vertical/horizontal/semi-pronated) and handle height (hip/shoulder). Multichannel high-density EMG (HDsEMG) was recorded for left and right rectus abdominis, erector spinae, and external obliques. Pushing at hip height with a horizontal handle orientation design (HH) resulted in significantly less (p < 0.05) muscle activity compared to the majority of other handle designs, as well as a significantly higher entropy than the shoulder handle height involving either the semi-pronated (p = 0.023) or vertical handle orientation (p = 0.028). The current research suggests that the combination of a hip height and horizontal orientation handle design may require increased muscle demand of the trunk and alter the overall muscle heterogeneity and pattern of the muscle activity.

Immediate changes in chest mobility and trunk muscle activity during pelvic tilt following different trunk muscle exercises

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Kazuma Uebayashi ◽  
Yu Okubo ◽  
Takuya Nishikawa ◽  
Taro Morikami ◽  
Jindo Hatanaka
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Trunk Muscle ◽  
Trunk Muscles ◽  
Abdominal Muscles ◽  
Kinematic Data ◽  
Repeated Measures Analysis ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Posterior Tilt ◽  
Increased Activity

BACKGROUND: Given the characteristics of the superficial trunk muscles that cross the chest and pelvis, their excessive contraction might limit chest mobility. OBJECTIVE: To examine the immediate effects of two types of trunk muscle exercises on chest mobility and trunk muscle activities. METHODS: Fourteen healthy men (age: 21.1 ± 1.0 years, height: 172.7 ± 5.6 cm, weight: 61.0 ± 7.1 kg, body mass index: 20.4 ± 1.7 kg/m2; mean ± SD) randomly performed trunk side flexion and draw-in exercises using a cross-over design. The chest kinematic data and trunk muscle activities were measured before and after each intervention during the following tasks: maximum inspiration/expiration and maximum pelvic anterior/posterior tilt while standing. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis (P< 0.05). RESULTS: After the side flexion, upper and lower chest mobility significantly decreased, and superficial trunk muscle activity significantly increased during the maximum pelvic anterior tilt (P< 0.05). Additionally, after the draw-in, upper chest mobility significantly increased during the maximum pelvic anterior tilt (P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Increased activity of the superficial abdominal muscles might limit chest mobility during maximum pelvic anterior tilt. Conversely, the facilitation of deep trunk muscles might increase upper chest mobility during the maximum pelvic anterior tilt.

Validation and comparison of trunk muscle activities in male participants during exercise using an innovative device and abdominal bracing maneuvers

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Yuki Kurokawa ◽  
Satoshi Kato ◽  
Satoru Demura ◽  
Kazuya Shinmura ◽  
Noriaki Yokogawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Trunk Muscle ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Trunk Muscles ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
External Oblique ◽  
Internal Oblique

BACKGROUND: Abdominal bracing is effective in strengthening the trunk muscles; however, assessing performance can be challenging. We created a device for performing abdominal trunk muscle exercises. The effectiveness of this device has not yet been evaluated or compared OBJECTIVE: We aimed to quantify muscle activity levels during exercise using our innovative device and to compare them with muscle activation during abdominal bracing maneuvers. METHODS: This study included 10 men who performed abdominal bracing exercises and exercises using our device. We measured surface electromyogram (EMG) activities of the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique, internal oblique (IO), and erector spinae (ES) muscles in each of the exercises. The EMG data were normalized to those recorded during maximal voluntary contraction (%EMGmax). RESULTS: During the bracing exercise, the %EMGmax of IO was significantly higher than that of RA and ES (p< 0.05), whereas during the exercises using the device, the %EMGmax of IO was significantly higher than that of ES (p< 0.05). No significant difference was observed in the %EMGmax of any muscle between bracing exercises and the exercises using the device (p= 0.13–0.95). CONCLUSIONS: The use of our innovative device results in comparable activation to that observed during abdominal bracing.

scholarly journals Effects of a Dynamic Chair on Chair Seat Motion and Trunk Muscle Activity during Office Tasks and Task Transitions

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 2723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corina Nüesch ◽  
Jan-Niklas Kreppke ◽  
Annegret Mündermann ◽  
Lars Donath
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Dynamic Condition ◽  
Trunk Muscle ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Task Transition ◽  
The Right ◽  
Hand Writing ◽  
And Task

Employing dynamic office chairs might increase the physical (micro-) activity during prolonged office sitting. We investigated whether a dynamic BioSwing® chair increases chair sway and alters trunk muscle activation. Twenty-six healthy young adults performed four office tasks (reading, calling, typing, hand writing) and transitions between these tasks while sitting on a dynamic and on a static office chair. For all task-transitions, chair sway was higher in the dynamic condition (p < 0.05). Muscle activation changes were small with lower mean activity of the left obliquus internus during hand writing (p = 0.07), lower mean activity of the right erector spinae during the task-transition calling to hand writing (p = 0.036), and higher mean activity of the left erector spinae during the task-transition reading to calling (p = 0.07) on the dynamic chair. These results indicate that an increased BioSwing® chair sway only selectively alters trunk muscle activation. Adjustments of chair properties (i.e., swinging elements, foot positioning) are recommended.

2. VAGINISMUS, VULVODYNIA AND PELVIC FLOOR MUSCLE ACTIVITY

Sexual Health ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 285
Author(s):  
R. Sapsford
Keyword(s):  
Pelvic Floor ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Pelvic Floor Muscle ◽  
Normal Function ◽  
Pelvic Floor Muscles ◽  
Abdominal Pressure ◽  
Abdominal Muscles ◽  
Physiological Factors ◽  
Muscle Groups ◽  
Postural Support

The pelvic floor muscles form the base of the abdominal cylinder and work in synergy with other muscles around the cylinder - the abdominal muscles and the diaphragm. Activity in each muscle group affects the others. Coordinated recruitment of these muscle groups is necessary for generation and maintenance of intra-abdominal pressure, postural support of the trunk, and during functional tasks such as lifting, coughing and nose blowing. Coordinated release of these groups is required for micturition, while defaecation may need activity in some muscles and release in others. Vaginismus and vulvodynia both have a component of over activity of the pelvic floor muscles which impairs normal function, though this over activity may only occur at the time of attempted penetration. Some of the physiological factors that contribute to this overactivity come from outside the pelvic floor muscle complex itself and can be ameliorated by understanding and management of these muscle synergies. An EMG study of muscle activity of the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles during a simulated body posturing for female sexual arousal will help to explain how the pelvic floor muscle over activity in vaginismus arises. Treatment programmes that have been used to successfully address these problems will be explained.

scholarly journals Surface electromyography comparison of the abdominal hypopressive gymnastics against the prone bridge exercise

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-246
Author(s):  
Gonzalo Alfonso Quiroz Sandoval ◽  
Nathalie Tabilo ◽  
Cristóbal Bahamondes ◽  
Pilar Bralic
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Wall ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Surface Electromyography ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Transversus Abdominis ◽  
Abdominal Pressure ◽  
Abdominal Muscles ◽  
External Oblique ◽  
Internal Oblique

Objectives: Abdominal hypopressive gymnastics (AHG) is a little-researched method designed to train the muscles of the abdominal wall and pelvic floor under low stress. This study’s objective is to compare levels of muscle activation in AHG against prone bridge by surface electromyography (sEMG) of the abdominal wall muscles. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects were enrolled to measure the muscle activity of the rectus abdominis (RA), transversus abdominis/internal oblique (Tra/IO), and external oblique (EO) during three exercises: prone bridge (PB), orthostatic hypopressive (OH), and hypopressive bridge (HB). Root mean square values normalized to the PB (%PB) as a baseline were used to compare the PB against OH and HB. Results: The median PB ratio (%PB) for the Tra/IO showed –10.31% and +59.7% activation during OH and the HB, respectively, whereas the RA showed –77.8% and +19.3% and the EO –39.8% and +9.8%. Significant differences were found for all muscles except the Tra/IO during the OH. Conclusion: This study’s results suggest that hypopressive exercises facilitate the activation of the Tra/IO similar to bridge exercises while simultaneously reducing RA and EO activity. This suggests that hypopressive training is a valid alternative for activating the abdominal muscles, isolating the Tra/IO at low intra-abdominal pressure.

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