Affiliations: [a] Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan | [b] Department of Nuclear Medicine/Biotracer Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan | [c] Kanazawa Advanced Medical Center, Kanazawa, Japan
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Satoshi Kato, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan. Tel.: +81 76 265 2374; Fax: +81 76 234 4261; E-mail: skato323@gmail.com.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: We developed an innovative exercise device for the abdominal trunk muscles (ATMs) that has a built-in system to measure muscle strength. We aimed to examine the reliability of the strength measurement as well as the effect of strengthening using the device. METHODS: Twenty healthy adults participated in a reliability study of the muscle strength measurement. The first and second measurement were done in one day with an hour rest interval by raters 1 and 2, and the third by rater 1 following a one-week interval. We calculated the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Another seven healthy men participated in a training program using the device, consisting of strengthening twice a week for 5 weeks. ATM strength was measured before and after the training period, and a positron emission tomography (PET) scan series was performed, consisting of examinations during rest before training (control condition) and during exercise after training (training condition). RESULTS:The intra-rater (ICC = 0.95) and inter-rater (ICC = 0.99) reliability of the strength measurement were excellent. ATM strength was significantly higher after training than before. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation within the diaphragm, abdominal rectus, abdominal external and internal oblique, transverse abdominal, and levator ani muscles was significantly higher in the training condition than in the control. CONCLUSIONS: Our innovative device showed excellent reliability to quantify ATM strength. Strengthening using the device increased strength and activated the abdominals, diaphragm, and pelvic floor muscles.
