scholarly journals Comparison of Lateral Abdominal Muscle Thickness and Cross-Sectional Area of Multifidus in Adults with and without Scoliosis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nahid Rahmani

Abstract Background: Scoliosis is common in students with a prevalence of 1-2% in teenagers and more than 50% in adults ≥ 60 years. The aim was to compare the abdominal and multifidus muscles size in adults with and without scoliosis. Methods: Forty men with and without scoliosis were recruited. The Visual Analogue Scale and the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire were used to evaluate the pain intensity and functional disability in the patients’ group, respectively. Subjects were asked to lie down in a supine position with their knees bent to measure abdominal muscles using sonography. The linear transducer was placed vertically on the anterolateral abdominal wall to record images of the abdominal muscles (Transversus abdominis, internal oblique, external oblique). To assess the lumbar multifidus muscle size, the curvilinear head was used horizontally on the multifidus muscle at the L5-S1 level in a prone lying position. Results: No significant difference was found between the two groups for demographic variables. A significant difference was found between the healthy subjects and patients with scoliosis for right and left abdominal and multifidus muscles size (p<0.05). No significant difference was reported between the two sides of the convexity and concavity on muscles size in patients with scoliosis (p>0.05). Conclusions: According to the results, patients with scoliosis had smaller abdominal and lumbar multifidus muscles size, but no significant differences were found between the muscle size of the concave and convex sides in the scoliosis group. Future work is needed to support the findings of the current study.

Author(s):  
Bartlomiej Burzynski ◽  
Tomasz Jurys ◽  
Michalina Knapik ◽  
Kamil Burzynski ◽  
Paweł Rzymski ◽  
...  

IntroductionThis study is designed to assess the percentage share of musculus obliquus externus abdominis, musculus obliquus internus abdominis and musculus transversus abdominis activity among women with stress urinary incontinence using ultrasonography.Material and methodsMaterial and methods: The study is a retrospective analysis of prospective collected data of 84 women aged 23-62 years old. In the study group are women suffering from grade 1 or 2 stress urinary incontinence according to the Stamey classification, the control group consists of women with no micturition disorders. The abdominal muscles activity was measured by using the ultrasound imaging with assessment of muscle thickness.ResultsThe analysis of musculus obliquus externus abdominis in anterolateral abdominal wall activity shows a statistically significant difference between study and control group concerning isometric tension of abdominal muscles (p=0,012) and lower part of abdomen tension (p=0,004). Women with stress urinary incontinence present a higher activity of the musculus obliquus externus abdominis than controls. In the case of the musculus obliquus internus abdominis, statistically significant differences were shown during tension of the lower part of the abdomen (p=0,024). Comparison of activity of the musculus transversus abdominis between study and control groups shows a statistically significant difference during isometric tension of abdominal muscles (p=0,018).ConclusionsThe pattern of activity of the assessed muscles differs between the study group and the control group. In the study group, the activity pattern is concerning the higher activity of the musculus obliquus externus abdominis and the lower activity of the musculus obliquus internus abdominis and musculus transversus abdominis.


2008 ◽  
Vol 104 (6) ◽  
pp. 1568-1573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitri Leduc ◽  
André De Troyer

Although ascites causes abdominal expansion, its effects on abdominal muscle function are uncertain. In the present study, progressively increasing ascites was induced in supine anesthetized dogs, and the changes in abdominal (ΔPab) and airway opening (ΔPao) pressure obtained during stimulation of the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles were measured; the changes in internal oblique muscle length were also measured. As ascites increased from 0 to 100 ml/kg body wt, Pab and muscle length during relaxation increased. ΔPab also showed a threefold increase ( P < 0.001). However, ΔPao decreased ( P < 0.001). When ascites increased further to 200 ml/kg, resting muscle length continued to increase and muscle shortening during stimulation became very small so that active muscle length was 155% of the resting muscle length in the control condition. Concomitantly, ΔPab returned to the control value, and ΔPao continued to decrease. Similar results were obtained with the animals in the head-up posture, although the decrease in ΔPao appeared only when ascites was greater than 125 ml/kg. It is concluded that 1) ascites adversely affects the expiratory action of the abdominal muscles on the lung; 2) this effect results primarily from the increase in diaphragm elastance; and 3) when ascites is severe, the abdomen cross-sectional area is also increased and the abdominal muscles are excessively lengthened so that their active pressure-generating ability itself is reduced.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (08) ◽  
pp. 630-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyssa Smyers Evanson ◽  
Joseph Myrer ◽  
Dennis Eggett ◽  
Ulrike Mitchell ◽  
A. Johnson

AbstractThe incidence of low back pain (LBP) among elite ballroom dancers is high and understanding associations between muscle morphology and pain may provide insight into treatment or training options. Research has linked multifidus muscle atrophy to LBP in the general and some athletic populations; however, this has not been examined in ballroom dancers. We compared the lumbar multifidus cross-sectional area (CSA) at rest in 57 elite level ballroom dancers (age 23±2.4 years; height, 174±11 cm; mass, 64±10 kg) divided into one of three pain groups, according to their self-reported symptoms, 1) LBP group (n=19), 2) minimal LBP (n=17), and 3) no LBP (n=21). There were no significant difference in demographics between the groups (P>0.05). The LBP group demonstrated significant differences in reported pain and Oswestry Disability Index scores compared to the other two groups. There was no significant difference between groups in multifidus cross-sectional area (P=0.49). Asymmetry was found in all groups with the overall left side being significantly larger than the right (P<0.002). Pain associated with segmental decrease in multifidus CSA was not observed in ballroom dancers with LBP, suggesting other reasons for persistent LBP in ballroom dancers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 803-808
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Gibbons ◽  
Marie-Louise Bird

Background: The training of abdominal muscles has a positive impact on the functional capacity of healthy adults, being applied practically in fields of athletics and fitness through rehabilitation for lower back pain. Objective: The study compares abdominal muscle activity while performing graded isometric exercises on stable and unstable surfaces. The authors also examined perceived stability and comfort for the different surfaces. Methods: A total of 30 young, healthy adults performed 3 graded isometric exercises on a Pilates table, foam roller, and Oov (a newly developed tool). Ultrasound investigation measured transversus abdominis, internal oblique abdominis, and external oblique abdominis thickness during each task, comparing muscle thickness between conditions using general linear modeling. Results: Core abdominal activation was greater on the foam roller than the Oov and Pilates table during crook lying (bilateral leg support). Both Oov and foam roller elicited greater contralateral transversus abdominis and internal oblique abdominis thickness than the Pilates table during tabletop and straight leg raises (unilateral leg exercises). For transversus abdominis only, the foam roller elicited more muscle thickness than the Oov during straight leg raises. The Oov was rated more comfortable than the foam roller. Discussion: Exercises performed on the Oov and foam roller elicit core greater abdominal muscle thickness than those performed on a Pilates table. Unilateral leg exercises in a supine position elicit more contralateral muscle thickness than those with bilateral leg support. Conclusions: These results provide information to support choices in exercise progression from flat stable to more unstable surfaces and from those with bilateral foot support to unilateral foot support. The Oov was more comfortable that the foam roller, and this may help with exercise adherence.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 857-863
Author(s):  
Sun-Young Ha ◽  
DooChul Shin

BACKGROUND: The curl-up exercise is widely used in clinical practice for strengthening abdominal muscles, but has been applied without a systematic method. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the most effective method considering the angle and muscle contraction direction during the curl-up exercise. METHODS: Fourteen healthy males performed the curl-up exercise according to contraction direction (concentric and eccentric) and angle (30∘, 60∘, and 90∘). The muscle activity of the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and iliopsoas (IP) was measured using electromyography (EMG), and the muscle thickness of transversus abdominis (TrA) was measured using ultrasonography. RESULTS: The activities of the abdominal muscles (RA, EO, and IO) decreased with increasing angles (30∘, 60∘, and 90∘) (p< 0.05). There was no significant difference between eccentric and concentric contractions. The thickness ratio of TrA was the largest at an eccentric curl-up at 30∘, and the smallest at a concentric curl-up at 30∘ (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The most effective angle for curl-up was 30∘. Although there is no difference in the direction of muscle contraction, eccentric curl-up at 30∘ could be considered the most effective posture for abdominal strengthening considering the importance of TrA.


Author(s):  
Oluleke Ganiyu Sokunbi

Background to the study: Muscle strength and muscle size measurement are useful indicator of musculoskeletal pathology but it seems difficult at the moment to isolate individual paravertebral muscle for strength testing. It may therefore be useful to measure muscle size which can be achieved in vivo using diagnostic imaging technique. Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study is to demonstrate test-retest reliability of using diagnostic ultrasound imaging in the assessment of multifidus cross sectional area (CSA). Materials and method: Five apparently healthy volunteers (2 males 3 females) whose ages ranged from 23 to 35 years participated in this study. FF Sonic UF-750XT diagnostic ultrasound imaging machine with a 5MHz curvilinear transducer was used for ultrasound imaging oflumbar multifidus muscle. Results: The results shows that the average scores of lumbar multifidus ranged from 5.3cm2 to 8.6cm2. The test retest reliability for measuring lumbar multifidus on both single (0.996) and average measures (0.999) was good (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Ultrasound imaging could be said to be a reliable method that could be used by physiotherapist in evaluating multifidus muscle size which in turn could be a useful guide to the assessment of the effects of low back pain (LBP) and in the evaluation of the efficacy of common therapeutic intervention for LBP disorders. KEY WORDS: Multifidus, Reliability, Ultrasound Imaging


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeon Kim ◽  
Hye-won Kang ◽  
Si-hyun Kim ◽  
Kyue-nam Park

AbstractThe current study explored whether (i) abdominal muscle thickness differed between non-painful supine and painful sitting positions and (ii) the sitting position was more reliable and useful than the supine position to discriminate between people with and without prolonged sitting-induced lower back pain (LBP). Participants with and without prolonged sitting-induced LBP participated. The thickness of the transversus abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) muscles was measured using ultrasonography in supine, usual sitting, and upright sitting positions. Analysis of variance was used to compare muscle thickness among the positions. Intraclass correlation coefficients and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine which position reliably identified between group. The group with LBP showed significantly greater EO muscle thickness than that without LBP only in the upright sitting position. In the group without LBP, the TrA thickness was significantly greater in the usual and upright sitting positions than in the supine position, but there was no significant difference in TrA thickness among three positions in LBP group. Only EO thickness in the upright sitting position significantly predicted prolonged sitting-induced LBP. The current study suggests that clinicians should assess abdominal activation patterns in the upright sitting rather than supine position before applying abdominal muscle motor control training for patients with prolonged sitting-induced LBP, and to distinguish between those with and without prolonged sitting-induced LBP.


2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-144
Author(s):  
Eleftherios Kellis ◽  
Athanasios Ellinoudis ◽  
Konstantina Intziegianni ◽  
Nikolaos Kofotolis

AbstractCore stability exercises are regular part of exercise programs for asymptomatic individuals across ages. The purpose of this study was to examine deep abdominal and multifidus muscle thickness in children and adults and to determine reliability of the rehabilitative ultrasound (RUSI) imaging. Transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus thickness at rest and during core stability exercise were examined in pre-pubertal children (N = 23), adolescents (N = 20), young adults (N = 21) and middle-aged adults (N = 22). Thirty-nine participants were re-tested one week after to establish reliability. Muscle thickness at rest was lower in children and adolescents compared with young and middle-aged adults (p < 0.008). Young adults displayed the highest relative transversus abdominis thickness upon contraction (p < 0.008). Lumbar multfidus contraction thickness was greater in young-adults than middle-aged adults and pre-pubertal children (p < 0.008), but it was similar between young-adults and adolescents (p > 0.008). Reliability was high for both muscles (ICC3,3 = 0.76 - 0.99). The age-related differences in muscle thickness indicate that core stability exercises may be beneficial for children and middle-aged adults.


Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 702
Author(s):  
Iria Da Cuña-Carrera ◽  
Alejandra Alonso-Calvete ◽  
Mercedes Soto-González ◽  
Eva M. Lantarón-Caeiro

Background and objective: Prior studies have reported an activation of abdominal muscles during hypopressive exercises in women with pelvic floor disfunction. However, no previous research analyzed the effects of hypopressive exercise on abdominal muscles in healthy populations to understand the normal biomechanics of this area. The aim of this study was to examine the thickness of abdominal muscles at rest and during hypopressive exercise in supine and standing positions with ultrasound imaging in healthy adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 99 healthy university students. The thickness of the abdominal muscles at rest and during hypopressive exercise was assessed with ultrasound imaging in supine and standing positions. Results: During hypopressive exercise, there was a significant increase in the muscle thickness of transversus abdominis (p < 0.001) and internal oblique (p < 0.001) in supine and standing positions. External oblique only increased its thickness significantly in the standing position (p < 0.001) and rectus abdominis did not change during the hypopressive exercise in any position (p > 0.05). In conclusion, hypopressive exercises seem to increase the thickness of the deepest and most stabilized muscles such as transversus abdominis and internal oblique. Conclusion: These findings should be considered for future interventions with hypopressive exercises in healthy subjects.


Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 699
Author(s):  
Neda Naghdi ◽  
Mohammad Ali Mohseni-Bandpei ◽  
Morteza Taghipour ◽  
Nahid Rahmani

Background and Objective: Previous studies demonstrated that the prevalence of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is relatively high. This investigation aimed to evaluate the size of lumbar multifidus (LM) muscle in patients with different degrees of LDH compared to healthy group, during rest and contraction, using ultrasonography. Materials and Methods: In this non-experimental, analytic, and case control study, ultrasound imaging was used to assess cross-sectional area (CSA) and thickness of the LM muscle in 15 healthy subjects and 60 patients with different stages of LDH (bulging group = 15, protrusion group = 15, extrusion group = 15, sequestration group = 15). Measurements were taken bilaterally at the L4–L5 level, during rest and contraction and results were compared between groups. Results: There was a significant difference between healthy subjects and the extrusion and sequestration groups during rest and contraction for LM muscle CSA and thickness (p = 0.001), as LM muscle CSA and thickness were significantly smaller in extrusion and sequestration patient groups compared to healthy subjects. LM atrophy was greater in patients with extrusion and sequestration groups than in patients with bulging and protrusion, both at rest and during contraction. Significant correlations were also observed between functional disability and intensity of pain with LM CSA and thickness measurements. Conclusions: Patients with extrusion and sequestration LDH had smaller LM muscle at rest and during contraction compared to healthy subjects. Larger LDH lesions were associated with decreased LM muscle size. Patient with more pain, disability, and extrusion and sequestration LDH had greater LM size changes. LM muscle size was not correlated with symptom duration. Further investigation with greater sample size is warranted.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document