Affiliations: [a] Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Seo-Gu, Busan, Korea | [b] Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Pusan, Geumjung-gu, Busan, Korea
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Laurentius Jongsoon Kim, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Pusan, 9, Bugok 3-dong, Geumjung-gu, Busan, 609-757, Korea. Tel.: +82 51 510 0573; Fax: +82 51 510 0578; E-mail:ptjskim@cup.ac.kr
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Many studies reported that the morbidity of the respiratory and
circulatory diseases is higher among smokers than non-smokers. Some recent
studies reported the effects of smoking on the musculoskeletal system.
However, it is difficult to generalize the experimental environment because
it is different from activities of daily living environment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in the
activation of abdominal muscles during trunk extension between smokers and
non-smokers. METHODS: The subjects were 30 healthy adults (15 smokers and 15
non-smokers). The percentage of maximal voluntary isometric contraction
(%MVIC) values of rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal
oblique and transversus abdominis(IO&TrA) were measured using the surface
electromyography System. RESULTS: The results showed no significant differences in the %MVIC of RA
and EO between smokers and non-smokers. However, the %MVIC of IO&TrA
showed a significant difference between smokers and non-smokers. The
%MVIC of IO&TrA of non-smokers was higher. CONCLUSIONS: The non-smokers showed greater activation of deep abdominal
muscles than smokers did.
Keywords: Activation of abdominal muscles, smokers, non-smokers, trunk extension
