Effects of the abdominal draw-in maneuver on transversus abdominis thickness, electromyography activity of the trunk muscles, and kinematics of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex during L & L tasks

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kang, Min-Hyeok^a | Lee, Dong-Kyu^b | Kim, Jun-Seok^c | Oh, Jae-Seop^{d; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, International University of Korea, Jinju, Korea | [b] Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School, Inje University, Gimhae, Korea | [c] Department of Physical Therapy, Gimhae College, Gimhae, Korea | [d] Department of Physical Therapy, Inje University, Gimhae, Korea

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Jae-Seop Oh, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Inje University, 607 Obang-Dong, Gimhae-Si, Gyeongsangnam-Do, 50834, Korea. Tel.: +82 55 320 3679; Fax: +82 55 329 1678; E-mail: ysrehab@inje.ac.kr.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) has been suggested to increase trunk stabilizing muscle activity; however, no study has identified the effects of the ADIM on trunk muscles and trunk movements during lifting and lowering (L & L) tasks. OBJECTIVE: We examined the effects of the ADIM on transversus abdominis (TrA) thickness during standing, the activity of the TrA, internal oblique (IO) and multifidus (MF), and the kinematics of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex during L & L tasks. METHODS: Fifteen male participants practiced expirations without and with the ADIM using ultrasound biofeedback. After training for each condition, the participants performed expirations with and without the ADIM in the standing position and during L & L tasks. TrA thickness during the standing position and muscular activities (EMG) of the bilateral TrA/IO and MF, and the peak angle of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex in the sagittal plane during L & L tasks were measured. RESULTS: TrA thickness during standing was increased with expiration with ADIM compared to that without the ADIM (p< 0.05). When performing expiration with the ADIM, increased activity of the TrA/IO and MF was observed by EMG, as well as peak pelvic anterior tilt and hip flexion with decreased peak lumbar flexion during L & L tasks (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The ADIM could be an effective strategy to improve trunk stability and reduce lumbar flexion during L & L tasks.

Keywords: Abdominal draw-in maneuver, electromyography, manual material handling, trunk stability

DOI: 10.3233/IES-192134

Journal: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 19-26, 2020