Sue L McPherson1, Todd Watson2. 1. Motor Behavior, Department of Physical Therapy, 242 HHS Building, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723(∗). Electronic address: mcpherson@email.wcu.edu. 2. Orthopedics, Department of Physical Therapy, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC(†).
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether healthy adults successfully completing transversus abdominis (TrA) muscle activation training in the supine position with clinician and ultrasound (US) imaging feedback increase their TrA activation during lifting and reaching tasks performed in the standing position. DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal within-subject, repeated-measures (RM) study. SETTING: University laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 19 of 24 asymptomatic adult volunteers met inclusion criteria. METHODS: Each adult performed 3 trials of 5 functional tasks before receiving any training. They were then briefed on the abdominal draw-in maneuver via educational materials. Next, each adult received individualized TrA activation training while in the supine position with clinician and US feedback of TrA activation. At 5 minutes after TrA activation training, each adult who met the criterion during training performed 3 trials of these same 5 functional tasks. Tasks were randomized during these test sessions. Adults who returned 5 months later (n = 10) were tested again on 3 trials of 3 of these tasks. No feedback was provided during test sessions. Recorded cine loop images were obtained via US per trial and masked for TrA measurement. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Resting state (minimum thickness) and contraction state (maximum thickness) of TrA were measured per recorded trial by a clinician who was shown to have high reliability. The percentage of change in TrA thickness {[(thicknessmax - thicknessmin)/ thicknessmin] × (100)} was the primary outcome measure. Trial averages were formed per measure per task per test session per adult. RESULTS: A 2-test sessions (pretraining, 5-minutes post-training) × 5 tasks RM analysis of variance (N = 19) indicated a significant and large effect for test sessions (P < .001, η(2) = 0.808) and moderate effect for tasks (P = .011; η(2) = 0.164). Likewise, a 3-test sessions (pretraining, 5-minutes posttraining, 5 months post-training) × 3 tasks RM analysis of variance (n = 10) indicated a significant and large test sessions effect (P < .001, η(2) = 0.57) and no task effect. Overall, the percent change in TrA thickness increased after the TrA activation training program and was maintained at 5 months; similar patterns of improvement were noted across test sessions and tasks. CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic adults successfully completing a short session of TrA activation training in the supine position with US feedback of TrA activation were able to increase their TrA activation during loaded lifting and reaching tasks for at least 5 months.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether healthy adults successfully completing transversus abdominis (TrA) muscle activation training in the supine position with clinician and ultrasound (US) imaging feedback increase their TrA activation during lifting and reaching tasks performed in the standing position. DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal within-subject, repeated-measures (RM) study. SETTING: University laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 19 of 24 asymptomatic adult volunteers met inclusion criteria. METHODS: Each adult performed 3 trials of 5 functional tasks before receiving any training. They were then briefed on the abdominal draw-in maneuver via educational materials. Next, each adult received individualized TrA activation training while in the supine position with clinician and US feedback of TrA activation. At 5 minutes after TrA activation training, each adult who met the criterion during training performed 3 trials of these same 5 functional tasks. Tasks were randomized during these test sessions. Adults who returned 5 months later (n = 10) were tested again on 3 trials of 3 of these tasks. No feedback was provided during test sessions. Recorded cine loop images were obtained via US per trial and masked for TrA measurement. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Resting state (minimum thickness) and contraction state (maximum thickness) of TrA were measured per recorded trial by a clinician who was shown to have high reliability. The percentage of change in TrA thickness {[(thicknessmax - thicknessmin)/ thicknessmin] × (100)} was the primary outcome measure. Trial averages were formed per measure per task per test session per adult. RESULTS: A 2-test sessions (pretraining, 5-minutes post-training) × 5 tasks RM analysis of variance (N = 19) indicated a significant and large effect for test sessions (P < .001, η(2) = 0.808) and moderate effect for tasks (P = .011; η(2) = 0.164). Likewise, a 3-test sessions (pretraining, 5-minutes posttraining, 5 months post-training) × 3 tasks RM analysis of variance (n = 10) indicated a significant and large test sessions effect (P < .001, η(2) = 0.57) and no task effect. Overall, the percent change in TrA thickness increased after the TrA activation training program and was maintained at 5 months; similar patterns of improvement were noted across test sessions and tasks. CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic adults successfully completing a short session of TrA activation training in the supine position with US feedback of TrA activation were able to increase their TrA activation during loaded lifting and reaching tasks for at least 5 months.
Authors: Todd Watson; Jessica Graning; Sue McPherson; Elizabeth Carter; Joshuah Edwards; Isaac Melcher; Taylor Burgess Journal: Int J Sports Phys Ther Date: 2017-02
Authors: Tobias Weber; Dorothée Debuse; Sauro E Salomoni; Edith L Elgueta Cancino; Enrico De Martino; Nick Caplan; Volker Damann; Jonathan Scott; Paul W Hodges Journal: Physiol Rep Date: 2017-03