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Abdominal bracing is often adopted in fitness and sports conditioning programs. However, there is little information on how muscular activities during the task differ among the muscle groups located in the trunk and from those during other trunk exercises. The present study aimed to quantify muscular activity levels during abdominal bracing with re...
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Citations
... Maeo et al., 2013;Matthijs et al., ...
Walking is known to be beneficial for chronic low back pain (LBP) patients and fast walking recruits more trunk muscles. Abdominal bracing has also been shown to improve LBP and facilitate several trunk muscles. We aimed to investigate the effects of walking velocity and abdominal bracing on the activation of trunk muscles in chronic LBP patients during walking. Forty-six volunteers with chronic LBP underwent walking exercise on the treadmill without (“non-braced walking”) and with abdominal bracing (“braced walking”) at speeds of 4, 5, and 6 km/h, with the surface electrodes placed on their trunk muscles to measure muscle activity. The root mean square values of the surface electromyography amplitude data were obtained at the multifidus of lower (ML) and upper lumbar (MU), erector spinae of lower lumbar (EL) and thoracic (ET), rectus abdominis (RA), and external oblique (EO). All muscles activated significantly more at faster walking. The “braced walking” facilitated the ET and RA significantly more than the “non-braced walking”. The interaction between the walking speed and abdominal bracing was significant at ML, MU, and RA. The increase in muscle activation observed at lower speed diminished as speed increased. Since “braced walking” seems to additionally facilitate the trunk muscles especially at slower gait speeds, patients who cannot walk fast may still be able to train their muscles by “braced walking.”
... Abdominal bracing is subtle in drawing of the lower abdominal muscles. It is a form of core muscle activation exercise where the muscles surrounding the trunk are gently activated, it requires the engagement of the entire trunk, diaphragm and lumbo-pelvic floor muscles [17]. Some researchers have shown that gentle abdominal bracing can lead to improvement in trunk muscle functions such as co-contraction of deep stabilizing muscles, which facilitates the attainment of neutral spine posture, recovery from injury and relief of chronic lower back pain [17][18][19]. ...
... It is a form of core muscle activation exercise where the muscles surrounding the trunk are gently activated, it requires the engagement of the entire trunk, diaphragm and lumbo-pelvic floor muscles [17]. Some researchers have shown that gentle abdominal bracing can lead to improvement in trunk muscle functions such as co-contraction of deep stabilizing muscles, which facilitates the attainment of neutral spine posture, recovery from injury and relief of chronic lower back pain [17][18][19]. ...
... Abdominal bracing is subtle in drawing of the lower abdominal muscles. It is a form of core muscle activation exercise where the muscles surrounding the trunk are gently activated, it requires the engagement of the entire trunk, diaphragm and lumbo-pelvic floor muscles [17]. Some researchers have shown that gentle abdominal bracing can lead to improvement in trunk muscle functions such as co-contraction of deep stabilizing muscles, which facilitates the attainment of neutral spine posture, recovery from injury and relief of chronic lower back pain [17][18][19]. ...
... It is a form of core muscle activation exercise where the muscles surrounding the trunk are gently activated, it requires the engagement of the entire trunk, diaphragm and lumbo-pelvic floor muscles [17]. Some researchers have shown that gentle abdominal bracing can lead to improvement in trunk muscle functions such as co-contraction of deep stabilizing muscles, which facilitates the attainment of neutral spine posture, recovery from injury and relief of chronic lower back pain [17][18][19]. ...
Background
The use of a combined abdominal bracing technique concurrently with treadmill walking exercise seems not to have been widely investigated, The use of either abdominal bracing and treadmill walk as a single individual method of treatment has proven to be of immense benefit in athletic training and amelioration of pain and functional limitation among different age groups suffering from chronic low back pain. Thus, the need to investigate whether the combination of abdominal bracing and treadmill walking would produce greater benefits than when the exercises are carried out in isolation in the management of chronic low back pain patients.
Study design
The study was a randomized control .
Participants
Thirty-three participants who met the inclusion criteria with age from 18 to 65 participated in the study.
Aim
This study aimed to compare the effects of treadmill walk with and without abdominal bracing versus usual care on pain, functional limitation and fear-avoidance behaviours among patients with non-specific chronic low back pain.
Methods
Thirty-three non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) patients were randomized into three groups treadmill walk without abdominal bracing (TWW), treadmill walk with abdominal bracing (TWAB) and usual care (UC). Interventions were carried out for 6 weeks.
Outcome measure
Pre and post-intervention scores of pain intensity, functional limitation, and fear-avoidance belief were assessed with box numerical pain rating scales, Oswestry disability index and Fear-Avoidance Belief Questionnaire, respectively.
Results
Pre-intervention scores of pain intensity functional disability and fear-avoidance belief did not show significant differences among the groups ( P >0.05). Within-group analysis with paired t-test showed that pain intensity and functional limitation were significantly reduced after 6 weeks of intervention among the 3 groups. Fear-avoidance belief recorded statistical reduction among the 2 treadmill procedures (TWAB and TWW) groups ( P <0.05) but not in the usual care groups ( P >0.05). Participants in the TWW group showed greater improvement than those in TWAB in terms of reduction in pain intensity (24.17±16.49), functional limitation (7.00±5.97, P = 0.001) and fear- avoidance (30.83±17.90, P = 0.003)
Conclusion
Treadmill walk with and without abdominal bracing as well as usual care could be effective in reducing pain. However, treadmill walk without abdominal bracing was more effective in improving back function in terms of reduction in pain intensity, functional limitation (as reported by the Oswestry scale) and reducing fear-avoidance behaviour (as reported by fear-avoidance belief scores).
Trial registration
PACTR, PACTR201910691645076 . Registered on 22 October 2019.
... increased by the abdominal bracing technique than the abdominal hollowing technique. During straight leg raise and knee fallout using the abdominal bracing technique, the pelvic rotation angle is significantly reduced compared to the hollowing technique and relaxation technique, so the abdominal bracing technique is more effective in improving radial pelvic stability [10,11,12]. ...
... Weakened lumbar muscles cause deterioration of the spinal stabilization function, which can be a primary cause of low-back pain [12,13]. Conversely, strengthening core muscles enhances core stability and is crucially involved in performing activities of daily living or various other activities, as well as maintaining posture and balance [57,58]. Our core stabilization exercise program enhanced lumbar muscle function and strength, which can enhance core stability and prevent musculoskeletal disorders caused by a lengthy sedentary lifestyle. ...
This study aimed to investigate the effect of core stabilization exercises on the contractile properties and isokinetic muscle function of adult females with a sedentary lifestyle. We enrolled 105 adult females. Tensiomyography was performed on the erector spinae, and the isokinetic muscular functional test was performed on the trunk at an angular velocity of 60°/s and 90°/s. All participants performed the exercise for 60 min per day, 3 times a week, for 7 weeks. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed at a significance level of 0.05. Tensiomyography (TMG) of the erector spinae revealed no significant post-exercise change in the contraction time; however, there was a significant post-exercise increase in the maximum radial displacement and mean velocity until 90% of the TMG was displaced. Additionally, the isokinetic muscular functional test of the trunk revealed a significant post-exercise increase in almost all variables. Our findings demonstrated that the core stabilization exercise reduced stiffness in the erector spinae, increased the velocity of erector spinae contraction, and effectively improved the isokinetic muscular function of the trunk.
... У силових видах спорту, до яких належить й бодібілдинг, на думку низки фахівців [11,12], основною причиною зростання спортивного травматизму на етапах підготовки є досить суттєві недоліки в методиці тренування -майже 43,3% від загальної кількості. Близько 32,5% травм в даному виді спорту відбувається за рахунок використання неправильної техніки виконання силових вправ або її погіршення під час напруженої м'язової діяльності в умовах великого м'язового стомлення організму спортсменів. ...
The purpose of the study was a comparative analysis of training programs in bodybuilding and an assessment of their influence on the frequency of traumatization of the musculoskeletal system of athletes. Materials and methods. Theoretical analysis of scientific and methodological literature was conducted. For a practical assessment of the primary data on the types of injuries, a survey of medical staff was conducted. We analyzed 54 journals with records of athletes' appeals to medical personnel. Mathematical processing of research results was carried out using the software packages IBM SPSS Statistics 2.0. The study, which was conducted during 4 months – from March to the end of June 2021, involved 60 bodybuilders aged 18-19 years old. Three research groups of 20 athletes each were formed. They were divided according to age, qualifications and anthropometric characteristics. The created groups did not have significant differences in these characteristics; the intergroup difference applied only to the proposed training programs. Results and discussion. In the course of the study, it was found that among the athletes of the control group who used the generally accepted program of training sessions with a certain sequence of using exercises of a basic and formative nature, the number of calls with certain pain sensations during four mesocycles of training decreased by 30.7% (p <0.05) compared to a similar period before the start of the study. At the same time, the results obtained show that among the athletes of the first main group, who used the combined program of training sessions in bodybuilding during the study, the controlled indicator of the number of calls decreased significantly – by 33.4% (p <0.05). Conclusion. In the process of studying the peculiarities of the influence of various programs of training sessions on the dynamics of morpho-functional indicators of the athletes’ organisms during four mesocycles of training sessions, a certain regularity was established regarding the ratio of the manifestations of types of injuries when performing strength exercises, depending on the sequence of their use. In the process of applying the methodical procedure "premature fatigue" on the dynamics of morphometric indicators of body weight of athletes it is shown that it is the third version of the program that contributes to a significant decrease in the number of calls (by 75%, p <0.05), compared with the results obtained over the period of the previous four mesocycles of intensive bodybuilding at the stage of specialized basic training of athletes
... Abdominal hollowing maneuvers (AHM) is a technique for individually contracting local muscles such as the TrA with detailed movements as if halting urination [24]. Abdominal bracing maneuvers (ABM) is a technique that focuses on global muscles such as the EO and IO through overall contraction, induced by thinking of the abdomen like a jar [25][26][27]. These techniques of abdominal stabilization can be used consciously or activation patterns of abdominal muscles can be engaged automatically upon retraining of motor control [28][29][30]. ...
BACKGROUND Spinal and pelvic injuries during an unexpected perturbation are closely related to spinal stability, which is known to be controlled by abdominal stabilization maneuvers. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of unexpected perturbations on trunk stability and abdominal stabilization strategies in 42 sedentary adults while sitting. MATERIAL AND METHODS Abdominal stabilization strategies consisted of bracing and hollowing maneuvers. Abdominal bracing maneuvers (ABM) were focused on the abdominal wall muscles [inferior oblique (IO), exterior oblique (EO)], and abdominal hollowing maneuvers (AHM) were focused on deep muscle (TrA) activation. The subjects were instructed in abdominal stabilization maneuvers. Afterward, subjects were seated in a chair that could be moved forward or backward suddenly with the support surface. RESULTS Angular displacements of the upper thorax, lower thorax, and lumbopelvic during unexpected perturbation, with different abdominal stabilization maneuvers, were measured. During forward perturbation (d=0.71, F=10.324, P=0.001) and backward perturbation in high speed (d=0.62, F=9.265, P=0.011), there were significant differences in angular displacements of the upper thorax between hollowing and bracing maneuvers. Additionally, significant differences were found in the lumbopelvic angular displacement between the hollowing and bracing maneuvers (d=0.62, F=4.071, P=0.044). CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that the ABM is a better stabilizing technique for the upper thorax, and the AHM is a better stabilizing technique for the lumbopelvic region during unexpected perturbations at high speed in the seated position.
... Los ejercicios de estabilización (facial y lateral) pueden ser considerados como una progresión de los ejercicios precedentes de control motor (Fig. 3). Permiten la participación de la musculatura global (estabilizadores globales/movilizadores globales) y se recomiendan con frecuencia [53,56] . La dificultad de los ejercicios puede también cambiar modificando varios parámetros (Cuadro 1) y/o realizándolos sobre un plano inestable (Fig. 3). ...
Resumen
El tratamiento conservador del paciente con lumbalgia crónica inespecífica debe ser multifactorial. Además del tratamiento de los factores psicosociales, el tratamiento activo se recomienda de manera unánime. Además de las actividades de tipo aeróbico que suelen ofrecerse a estos pacientes, el tratamiento incluye con frecuencia ejercicios de fuerza o resistencia de los músculos del tronco (a veces mediante electroestimulación neuromuscular o aparatos médicos sofisticados que solicitan de forma específica los músculos espinales) y estiramientos (esencialmente de la musculatura espinal) y/o ejercicios de control sensitivomotor. Los ejercicios terapéuticos de tipo Pilates, que incluyen varios componentes, como ejercicios de control sensitivomotor y estiramientos, también parecen utilizarse con frecuencia. La elección y las modalidades de estas técnicas/ejercicios deben ser individualizadas para tener en cuenta las capacidades, necesidades y preferencias del paciente. En efecto, en la actualidad, ningún ejercicio específico parece ser más eficaz que otros. El propósito de este artículo es describir estas técnicas/enfoques para la lumbalgia crónica y sus beneficios basados en la evidencia científica.
... For the trunk exercise tasks and the isometric 132 maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) the surface 133 EMG activations of the rectus abdominis (RA), external 134 oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and erector spinae 135 (ES) muscles of the right side were evaluated using a 136 portable EMG recording system (Polymate AP 1000, 137 TEAC, Japan). The electrode placements were deter-138 mined according to previous study reports [13,14]. The 139 EMG signals were band-pass filtered (10-500 Hz), am-140 plified, digitized, and stored at a sampling frequency 141 of 1000 Hz. ...
... Data were normalized to 151 the EMG activity evaluated during the MVC for the 152 corresponding muscle (% EMGmax). First, MVC tasks for each of the RA, EO, IO, and 156 ES muscles were performed according to a previous 157 study [13]. After completing the MVC tasks, the partic-158 ipants performed the exercises for measurements (ab-159 dominal bracing and exercise using the device) on a 160 different day. ...
... Abdominal bracing exercise 178 According to a previous study, participants were in-179 structed to simultaneously contract the paraspinal and 180 abdominal muscles for the bracing exercise task (i.e., 181 "to contract the abdominal muscles as if they were 182 preparing to resist against a physical impact to the ab-183 domen") [15]. In a neutral-spine sitting position with the 184 feet shoulder-width apart, participants were instructed 185 to activate the abdominals maximally without hollow-186ing the lower abdomen[13]. ...
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 comparedOBJECTIVE: 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.
... During the training task, the participants were asked to maximally co-contract their abdominal muscles without hollowing the lower abdomen or changing the upper body position. 13,25 The contraction of the rectus abdominis and EO muscles was checked by palpation. IO muscle activation was examined to detect breath holding during AB. ...
The importance of core stabilization exercises for extremities associated with dynamic spinal stabilization prior to movement has been demonstrated. However, no previous studies have investigated the muscle-coordinated effects on the upper trapezius (UT), anterior deltoid (AD), pectoralis major (PM), bilateral transverse abdominis (TrA), bilateral internal oblique (IO), and bilateral external oblique (EO) in healthy adults. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of the dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) breathing technique and the abdominal bracing (AB) technique on UT, AD, PM, bilateral IO/TrA, and bilateral EO motor control in healthy participants during horizontal shoulder adduction. Thirty-six participants, eight of whom were female, were randomized into an AB and a DNS group and performed horizontal shoulder adduction with loads (8 and 17 lb). The clinical outcomes were UT, AD, and PM muscle activation and TrA/IO and EO muscle activation. Paired t-tests were used to analyze electromyography (EMG) data to determine statistically significant differences in muscle activity between the two techniques. For the EMG analysis, the maximal voluntary isometric contraction was measured for normalization and then divided by the EMG amplitude value. The results showed that UT, AD, and PM muscle amplitudes were lower and TrA/IO and EO muscle amplitudes were higher with DNS than with AB ([Formula: see text]). Our findings provide clinical evidence that core exercise with DNS is more effective in lessening UT, AD, and PM muscle activation and improving bilateral TrA/IO motor control than with AB.
