Article

The aim of this paper is to test "corset" model of spinal stability,
specifically the hypothesis that feed forward transversus abdominis activity is
bilaterally symmetrical and independent of the direction of perturbation to
posture due to arm. This study will assess transversus abdominis
electromyographical activity bilaterally. METHODS:
Feed forward intramuscular
transversus abdominis electromyographical data and reaction forces on the thorax
due to the arm movement were collected and processed for 6 healthy subjects
during 6 trials of 8 types of arm movements (randomised order). Reciprocal
transversus abdominis indices were calculated as the difference between the
normalised integrated feed forward transversus abdominis electromyographical data
from each side of the trunk. FINDINGS: The main finding of the study was that the
reciprocal transversus abdominis index was significantly related to the axial
rotational forces on the thorax due to arm movement (F=109.991, p<0.001). Right
arm movements produced clockwise axial rotation forces on the thorax and dominant
left transversus abdominis muscle activity. INTERPRETATION: The consequence of
this finding is that feed forward transversus abdominis activity is not
bilaterally symmetrical and is not independent of the direction of perturbation
to posture due to arm movement. Transversus abdominis forms part of a synergy of
muscles contributing to the generation of axial rotation forces in the core that
oppose the forces due to arm movement. These findings indicate that training
bilateral pre-activation of the transversus abdominis prior to rapid movement is
not justified and may potentially be problematic for the production of normal movement patterns.
CI - Crown Copyright (c) 2011. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS