Effects of Abdominal Hollowing During Stair Climbing on the Activations of Local Trunk Stabilizing Muscles: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

ObjectiveTo examine using surface electromyography whether stair climbing with abdominal hollowing (AH) is better at facilitating local trunk muscle activity than stair climbing without AH.MethodsTwenty healthy men with no history of low back pain participated in the study. Surface electrodes were attached to the multifidus (MF), lumbar erector spinae, thoracic erector spinae, transverse abdominus - internal oblique abdominals (TrA-IO), external oblique abdominals (EO), and the rectus abdominis. Amplitudes of electromyographic signals were measured during stair climbing. Study participants performed maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) for each muscle in various positions to normalize the surface electromyography data.ResultsAH during stair climbing resulted in significant increases in normalized MVCs in both MFs and TrA-IOs (p<0.05). Local trunk muscle/global trunk muscle ratios were higher during stair climbing with AH as compared with stair climbing without AH. Especially, right TrA-IO/EO and left TrA-IO/EO were significantly increased (p<0.05).ConclusionStair climbing with AH activates local trunk stabilizing muscles better than stair climbing without AH. The findings suggest that AH during stair climbing contributes to trunk muscle activation and trunk stabilization.

Is abdominal hollowing exercise using real-time ultrasound imaging feedback helpful for selective strengthening of the transversus abdominis muscle?

“…The guideline of the verbal feedback from a physiatrist is as follows: “In a supine hook-lying position, draw in the lower abdomen toward spine gently and slowly without both contracting the upper abdomen and moving back or pelvis, while comfortably breathing in and out.” [ 9 ] The guideline of the tactile feedback is as follows: when performing AHE, subjects placed their finger-tips 2 cm medial and caudal to the anterior superior iliac spine and felt contraction of the muscles on their fingertips. At the same time, the physiatrist positioned his or her fingertips together with the subject and confirmed whether the subject has properly positioned their fingertips and contracted muscles correctly [ 10 ] (Fig. 2 A).…”

The Effect of Distractive Function on Volitional Preemptive Abdominal Contraction During a Loaded Forward Reach in Normal Subjects

“…This muscle activation changes during different postures in subjects without LBP [34,49], increasing when they are positioned upright against gravity [8,9,43]. Investigators reported that subjects can engage a VPAC strategy during functional activities [11,50], and most of this study's VPAC conditions produced a significantly greater TrA contraction versus the no-VPAC conditions. One may question the ceiling effect of the ADIM for increasing deep abdominal responses during the chosen function activity, as the activity itself may maximize the available muscle response not allowing for more changes with a VPAC.…”

Audiovisual Biofeedback-Based Trunk Stabilization Training Using a Pressure Biofeedback System in Stroke Patients: A Randomized, Single-Blinded Study

“…From a biomechanical perspective, the present study aimed to stimulate and activate local muscles using RTUI and visual biofeedback and used a compound method combining closed chain and open chain exercises using sliding motion. In a study by Lee et al [ 45 ], palpation feedback was used to investigate activation of local muscles. This method is frequently used for trunk stabilization training in clinical practice; however, selective contraction of the deep muscles without biofeedback seems to be difficult.…”