Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of volitional preemptive abdominal
contraction by using an abdominal bracing maneuver (ABM) on postural control
responses. DESIGN: A within-subjects, repeated-measure, experimental design.
SETTING: Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-five healthy subjects between 18 and 50
years of age. METHODS: Subjects performed ABM alternating with No-ABM during 2
rounds of 2 Neurocom computed dynamic posturography tests: the Motor Control Test
(MCT) and conditions 1
(eyes open), 2 (eyes closed), and 5 (eyes closed,
sway-referenced support) of the Sensory Organization Test (SOT). MAIN OUTCOME
MEASUREMENTS: (1) MCT Response Latency (milliseconds) and Response Scaling
(magnitude of active postural correction) and (2) SOT Equilibrium Scores and
2-Dimensional Sway ( degrees /second), and SOT Movement Strategy, which measure
postural sway and movement strategies (ankle versus hip strategy), respectively.
RESULTS: The use of ABM (versus No-ABM) produced: (1) a small but statistically
significant decrease in SOT Equilibrium Score for condition 2 (-1.0%; P = .004);
(2) an increase in SOT 2-Dimensional Sway ( degrees /second) during conditions 1
(16.9%; P = .0001) and 2 (15.0%; P = .0001); (3) a small decrease in SOT Movement
Strategy scores during condition 1 (-0.5%; P = .001) and condition 2 (-1.0%; P =
.017); and (4) a reduction of MCT Response Latency by 3 milliseconds (-2.1%; P =
.005) and reduction of Response Scaling by 0.33 degrees /second (-9.2%; P =
.001). CONCLUSION: Individuals can incorporate the ABM without substantively
altering postural control. Although selected SOT and MCT scores exhibited small
decreases in postural response integrity, those outcomes did not reflect
functionally meaningful changes. These findings can enhance clinicians'
confidence in prescribing the ABM as a means to protectively stabilize the spine
and potentially prevent injury in healthy subjects without concern for reducing
postural control, especially during more complex postural perturbations that
introduce sensory conflict.
CI - Copyright (c) 2015 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS