Transversus Abdominis and Obliquus Internus Activity During Pilates Exercises: Measurement With Ultrasound Scanning (original) (raw)
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Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
The transversus abdominis (TrA) is a core muscle that contributes to functional mobility and lumbar stability. This study aimed to compare the changes in TrA thickness during different Pilates exercises, and to identify the exercise that elicited the greatest TrA activation. Forty-four healthy women were divided into two groups: young (25–35 years old) and middle-aged (36–55 years old). TrA thickness was assessed by ultrasound while the participants performed five Pilates exercises: basic position, hundred, hip roll, side plank, and dead bug. A repeated measures analysis of variance revealed that the dead bug exercise induced a significantly higher increase in TrA thickness (relative to rest) than the other exercises (p < 0.05). The young group also showed a significantly higher overall TrA thickness than the middle-aged group (p < 0.05). The findings suggest that the dead bug exercise is the most effective for enhancing TrA activation among the Pilates exercises tested. The b...
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2005
The neuromuscular system acts to maintain postural stability and reduce the impact of deleterious loads on the spine. Exercising of the abdominal muscles has become widely used in the management of low back pain in order to provide this supplement to spinal stability. Several exercise programmes have been advocated to promote stabilization but evaluation is difficult. This study evaluates two common forms of exercise effects on the ability to appropriately contract Transversus Abdominis (TrA) muscle, whose normal function is regarded as significant in spinal stability.
Cruz TMF, Rosa FO, Marchetti PH, Luna NMS, Fedele TA, Greve JMA, Rodrigues MB, Verlengia R, Lopes CR. The Morphological and Performance Response of Pilates Training in Active Women. JEPonline 2016;19 :52-63. The purpose of this study was to investigate the muscle activation and fatigue post high volume Pilates training and the acute implications on the strength performance and morphological responses related to muscle tissue of lower limb. Twelve healthy young trained women performed one session of Pilates using a Wunda Chair. In two distinct moments (preand post-intervention), transverse relaxation time (T2)weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images and isokinetic test evaluations of the lower limbs were recorded. There were significant increases in T2 signal intensity post-intervention for the gluteus maximus and throughout the muscle portion (proximal, medial, and distal) of the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris. There were significant decreases in performance from pre-to post-intervention in peak torque, total work, and average power of the extension moment. However, in the 53 flexion moment, there were no significant differences in performance between pre-and postintervention. The findings confirm that the Pilates method, when applied with the control of variables such as time series, repetitions, and rest intervals, promotes a modification of muscle strength and volume of the affected muscular groups. The ability to manipulate training variables when applied to Pilates apparatus promotes similar acute changes as reported in strength training studies.
Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria e Desempenho Humano, 2013
Análise comparativa da atividade elétrica dos músculos abdominais durante exercício tradicional e método pilates sob duas condições Abstract -The use of Pilates-based exercises for trunk strengthening has been reported in the literature. The objective of this study was to analyze and compare the electrical activity of the rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles during a traditional abdominal exercise program and an exercise program based on the Pilates method using a ball and an elastic band. The sample was composed of 10 healthy women, non-practitioners of Pilates, who performed the traditional abdominal exercise and roll-up with the ball and elastic band. The sign was normalized by the electromyographic peak of the dynamic activity and was adjusted for 2000 samples/s; the filter was set in a frequency band from 20 to 450 Hz. In the comparison between exercises, the external oblique muscle in the concentric phase had a higher recruitment in the roll-up with the ball (P = 0.042). In the comparison between muscles in each exercise, the rectus abdominis showed a higher activation in the concentric phase (P = 0.009) and in the eccentric phase (P = 0.05) of the traditional abdominal exercise. Activation percentages ranged from 15% to 22%. The traditional abdominal exercise had the largest activation percentage.
Kinesiology, 2021
The Pilates method is often used in the treatment of nonspecific low back pain (NSCLBP). The effect of Pilates group exercising (mat and apparatus combined) on women with NSCLBP is unknown. Studies on the Pilates method often use ultrasound (US) to measure transversus abdominis (TrA) thickness in one anatomical location. We recruited 40 women, 22 with NSCLBP and 18 healthy women (active control group), to join five weeks of biweekly Pilates group exercising (apparatus and mat). Measurements included TrA thickness (left and right) at rest, during active draw-in maneuver (ADIM), and its TrA% change in three anatomical areas; Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ); and pain level (VAS). Before the study, no asymmetry in TrA thickness was noted as well as no between-group differences in TrA-thickness in three anatomic areas (in rest and ADIM). Following the intervention, TrA thickness increased during rest in the healthy group in two areas. No differences were noted between the t...
Medical ultrasonography, 2020
AIM The purpose of the present study was to establish which type of exercise is optimal for Rectus Abdominis (RA) muscle, by measuring thickness and length changes using the extended field of view ultrasonography (EFOV US) during different conditions. The second purpose was to estimate the reliability of EFOV US as a muscle morphology assessment tool. MATERIAL AND METHODS Segmental muscle thickness and length of 11 young healthy adults was assessed during 1) rest and isometric 2) trunk lifting, 3) leg lifting and 4) combined trunk and leg lifting exercises with the use of EFOV US. RESULTS RA muscle thickness was significantly greater during exercises compared to rest (p<0.05). It was also observed that proximal and proximal-middle segments showed significantly less thickness and length compared to distal-middle and distal segments (p<0.05). Even though no differences in thickness were observed between the exercises, leg lifting and combined trunk and leg lifting exercises affe...
Application of Pilates principles increases paraspinal muscle activation
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2015
To analyze the effect of Pilates principles on the EMG activity of abdominal and paraspinal muscles on stable and unstable surfaces. Methods: Surface EMG data about the rectus abdominis (RA), iliocostalis (IL) and lumbar multifidus (MU) of 19 participants were collected while performing three repetitions of a crunch exercise in the following conditions: 1) with no Pilates technique and stable surface (nP þ S); 2) with no Pilates technique and unstable surface (nP þ U); 3) with Pilates technique and stable surface (P þ S); 4) with Pilates and unstable surface (P þ U). The EMG Fanalysis was conducted using a custom-made Matlab â 10. Results: There was no condition effect in the RA iEMG with stable and unstable surfaces (F (1,290) Z 0 p Z 0.98) and with and without principles (F (1,290) Z 1.2 p Z 0.27). IL iEMG was higher for the stable surface condition (F (1,290) Z 32.3 p < 0.001) with Pilates principles (F (1,290) Z 21.9 p < 0.001). The MU iEMG was higher for the stable surface condition with and without Pilates principles (F (1,290) Z 84.9 p < 0.001).
Muscle activity in upper and lower rectus abdominus during abdominal exercises
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 1996
Objective: To compare the intensity of the upper versus lower rectus abdominis (RA) muscle activity provoked by each of two different abdominal exercises and to contrast the intensity of contraction elicited by two different abdominal exercises on each RA muscle portion. Design: Nonrandomized control trial. Setting: Kinesiology laboratory in a university medicine faculty. Participants: Convenience sample of 33 healthy volunteers. Subjects who had practiced endurance or strength training activities (1.5 hours 3 days a week for 3 years) and those who had not accomplished that criterion comprised a high and a low physical activity group, respectively. Each of these two groups was divided by the ability to perform the exercises into two subgroups: correct and incorrect performers (cp, ic). Main Outcome Measure: Average surface iEMG was compared between upper and lower RA and on each muscle portion performing curl-up (CU) and posterior pelvic tilt (PT) exercises. The coefficient of variation, a two-way analysis of variance, and the t test were calculated. Results: The upper RA showed significantly greater activity during performance of CU exercise by the cp subgroups of both high (t = 2.14302, 95%) and low (t = 2.35875, 95%) activity groups. Only the cp subgroup of the high activity group showed that PT was significantly more strenuous than CU exercise on lower RA (t =-2.06467, 95%). Conclusions: Among correct performers, CU produces greater activity on upper RA. For persons who have a high level of activity, PT is more strenuous than CU on lower RA. Among incorrect performers, either exercise indistinctly activates the muscle portions.
Measurement of superficial and deep abdominal muscle thickness: an ultrasonography study
Journal of physiological anthropology, 2016
Real-time ultrasound imaging is a valid method in the field of rehabilitation. The ultrasound imaging allows direct visualization for real-time study of the muscles as they contract over the time. Measuring of the size of each abdominal muscle in relation to the others provides useful information about the differences in structure, as well as data on trunk muscle activation patterns. The purpose of this study was to assess the size and symmetry of the abdominal muscles at rest in healthy adults and to provide a reference range of absolute abdominal muscle size in a relatively large population. A total 156 healthy subjects with the age range of 18-44 years were randomly recruited. The thickness of internal oblique, external oblique, transverse abdominis, and rectus abdominis muscles was measured at rest on both right and left sides using ultrasound. Independent t test was used to compare the mean thickness of each abdominal muscle between males and females. Differences on side-to-sid...
MOJ Yoga & Physical Therapy, 2017
Obtaining an ethical approval by the Hospital Ethics Committee and having provided written informed consent, 40 healthy female health-workers were included to the study. Exclusion criteria were having cardiac and pulmonary problem, being under eighteen years old, having had spinal or abdominal surgery at any time, having back pain in the last two years, having visible scoliosis, neuromuscular disorders, pregnancy or having previous Pilates training. Study took place in Istanbul Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital between September-October 2010. This study was implemented as a part of an already existing Pilates exercise