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Int J Sports Med 2016; 37(02): 134-143
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1559771
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Intra-abdominal Pressure and Trunk Muscular Activities during Abdominal Bracing and Hollowing

K. Tayashiki
1   National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, Sport and Life Science, Kanoya, Japan
,
Y. Takai
2   National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, Sport Performance, Kanoya-shi, Japan
,
S. Maeo
3   Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
,
H. Kanehisa
2   National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, Sport Performance, Kanoya-shi, Japan
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted after revision 04 August 2015

Publication Date:
28 October 2015 (online)

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Abstract

This study examined the difference in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) between abdominal bracing and hollowing in relation to trunk muscular activities. IAP with a pressure transducer placed in the rectum and surface electromyograms for rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and erector spinae during the 2 tasks were obtained in 7 young adult men. The difference between IAP at rest and its peak value (ΔIAPmax) showed high intra- and inter-day repeatability, and was significantly greater in abdominal bracing (116.4±15.0 mmHg) than in abdominal hollowing (9.9±4.5 mmHg). The trunk muscular activities at ΔIAPmax were significantly higher in abdominal bracing than in abdominal hollowing, and in the internal oblique than in the other 3 muscles. In both abdominal bracing and hollowing, the changes in IAP during the tasks were linearly correlated with those in trunk muscular activities, but the slope of the regression line for the relationship differed between the 2 tasks. The current results indicate that 1) abdominal bracing is an effective maneuver to elevate IAP compared with abdominal hollowing, and 2) in the 2 tasks, the changes in IAP are linked with those in trunk muscular activities, but the association is task-specific.

Key words

stabilization exercise - electromyogram - repeatability - task specificity
 

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