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Many studies have measured stature change arising from loads imposed on the spine during sitting. To improve stature recovery, it is important to stabilise the lumbar spine and compensate forces from the upper body. The abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) technique has been found to mainly activate deep trunk muscles. The purpose of this study was to determine whether activation of deep trunk muscles by the ADIM technique could immediately improve stature recovery during prolonged sitting. Twenty-four patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) were randomly allocated into different orders of experimental conditions: control (sitting without ADIM technique) and intervention conditions (sitting with ADIM technique). The latter condition required participants to complete ADIM technique for 1 min and repeat it three times throughout 41 min prolonged sitting time. Stature recovery was improved by 3.292 mm in the intervention condition compared with control condition ( p -value = 0.001). Our finding demonstrated that ADIM technique improved stature recovery. Practitioner Summary: Prolonged sitting seemingly harms sedentary workers' health, particularly affecting the lower back. Activation of deep trunk muscles using abdominal drawing-in maneuver technique can promote spinal recovery. Clinicians can teach abdominal drawing-in maneuver technique to activate deep trunk muscles in chronic low back pain, thereby promoting self-management of seated stature recovery. Abbrevations: ADIM: abdominal drawing-in maneuver; RA: rectus abdominis; ICLT: iliocostalis lumborum pars thoracis; LM: lumbar multifidus; TrA: transversus abdominis; IO: internal oblique; CLBP: chronic low back pain; LBP: low back pain; RMDQ: Roland Morris disability questionnaire; NRS: numerical rating scale.

Background & Aims: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and erratic bowel habits. A diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) can reduce symptoms of IBS, possibly by reducing microbial fermentation products. We investigated whether ingestion of FODMAPs can induce IBS-like visceral hypersensitivity mediated by fermentation products of intestinal microbes in mice., Methods: C57Bl/6 mice were gavaged with lactose, with or without the antiglycation agent pyridoxamine, or saline (controls) daily for 3 weeks. A separate group of mice were fed a diet containing fructo-oligosaccharides, with or without pyridoxamine in drinking water, or a normal chow diet (controls) for 6 weeks. Feces were collected and analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and bacterial community analyses. Abdominal sensitivity was measured by electromyography and mechanical von Frey filament assays. Colon tissues were collected from some mice and analyzed by histology and immunofluorescence to quantify mast cells and expression of advanced glycosylation end-product specific receptor (AGER)., Results: Mice gavaged with lactose or fed fructo-oligosaccharides had increased abdominal sensitivity compared with controls, associated with increased numbers of mast cells in colon and expression of the receptor for AGER in proximal colon epithelium. These effects were prevented by administration of pyridoxamine. Lactose and/or pyridoxamine did not induce significant alterations in the composition of the fecal microbiota. Mass spectrometric analysis of carbonyl compounds in fecal samples identified signatures associated with mice given lactose or fructo-oligosaccharides vs controls., Conclusions: We found that oral administration of lactose or fructo-oligosaccharides to mice increases abdominal sensitivity, associated with increased numbers of mast cells in colon and expression of AGER; these can be prevented with an antiglycation agent. Lactose and/or pyridoxamine did not produce alterations in fecal microbiota of mice. Our findings indicate that preventing glycation reactions might reduce abdominal pain in patients with IBS with sensitivity to FODMAPs., (Copyright © 2020 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although delayed onset of the deep abdominal muscles activity in subjects with non-specific chronic low back pain (CLBP) has been suggested to be related to trunk rotational torque, no study has examined the onsets associated with non-specific CLBP during a variety of tasks with different trunk rotational torque. The aim of this study is to compare the onsets of deep abdominal muscles activity among tasks with different trunk rotational torques in subjects with and without non-specific CLBP., Methods: Twelve subjects with non-specific CLBP and 13 control subjects were included. They performed 8 types of upper limb movements. The onsets of muscular activity of bilateral internal oblique-transversus abdominis (IO-TrA) and trunk rotational torque due to the upper limb movements were measured using a surface electromyography and a three-dimensional motion analysis system., Results: In non-specific CLBP group, right IO-TrA activities were significantly delayed during tasks with left trunk rotational torque compared with the control (P < 0.05), while onsets of the left IO-TrA activities were significantly later than those of the control during tasks with right rotational torque of the trunk (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in onsets of both sides IO-TrA during tasks without trunk rotational torque between non-specific CLBP and control groups (P > 0.05)., Conclusions: The onsets of IO-TrA activities in subjects with non-specific CLBP were delayed during tasks with rotational torque of the trunk in the opposite direction, suggesting a possibility that delayed onset of the deep abdominal muscles during rotational torque of the trunk might be etiology of chronic low back pain., (Copyright © 2019 The Japanese Orthopaedic Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate impairment in the activity pattern of some muscles involved in sit to stand (STD) and stand to sit (STS) among 2 low back pain (LBP) subgroups of the Movement System Impairment (MSI) model., Design: Case-control study., Setting: A university medical center., Participants: Fifteen women without chronic LBP and 22 women with chronic LBP (N=37) in 2 subgroups (15 into the lumbar extension rotation (LER) and 7 into lumbar flexion rotation [LFR]) voluntarily participated in this study., Interventions: Participants were asked to perform STD and STS at a preferred speed. Surface electromyography (EMG) were measured bilaterally from the internal oblique (IO), lumbar erector spine (ES), medial hamstring (MH), and lateral hamstring (LH) muscles., Main Outcome Measures: Changes in mean and maximum amplitude, time to peak amplitude, duration of muscle activity, and bilateral asymmetry of these variables., Results: During STD, bilateral asymmetry in mean amplitude of MH in the LER subgroup (P=.031) and bilateral asymmetry in duration of LH in the LFR subgroup (P=.026) were exhibited. Also, in this task reduced time to peak left MH activation were found in the LFR subgroup than 2 other groups (control; P=.028/LER; P=.004). During STS, increased left ES maximum amplitude were observed in the LFR subgroup than LER subgroup (P=.029). Also, reduced time to peak right ES (P=.035) and left LH (P=.038) activation in the LER subgroup than control subjects and reduced time to peak left LH activation in LFR subgroup than control subjects (P=.041) were observed during STS., Conclusions: The differences between the 2 LBP subgroups may be a result of impairment in the activity pattern of some muscles during functional activity., (Copyright © 2018 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. All rights reserved.)

Hemiplegia is the classic condition resulting from a stroke. To assist in recovery, the overflow method can be employed to stimulate the affected limb, using the healthy contralateral lower limb (LL) to activate the plegic upper limb (UL) musculature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate effect of overflow using the PNF method on the plegic upper limb muscles of post-stroke individuals in the acute and chronic stages, as well as on the muscles of healthy individuals. A total of 22 individuals participated in the work, comprising 8 healthy individuals (control group), 6 post-stroke acute stage individuals (acute group), and 8 post-stroke chronic stage individuals (chronic group). The participants were assessed using a questionnaire with sections for personal and disease data and application of the ICF scale and the Fugl-Meyer index. The three groups were submitted to electromyographic evaluation, using the posterior deltoid (PD), anterior deltoid (AD), pectoralis major (PM), and external oblique (EO) muscles in four different positions: P1 (resting the UL, with the LL contralateral to the affected limb positioned in diagonal); P2 (resting the UL, with manual resistance in the contralateral LL); P3 (affected UL positioned in diagonal, with manual resistance in the contralateral LL) e P4 (affected UL positioned in diagonal, with fixed point and manual resistance in the contralateral LL). The electromyography results revealed no significant differences between most of the positions for the four muscles evaluated (p > 0.05). However, high clinical relevance (d > 0.8) was found for muscle activation in positions 2 and 4. It could be concluded that for post-stroke individuals in the acute and chronic stages, overflow using PNF effectively increased activation of the PD, AD, PM, and EO muscles in the P2, as well as position 4., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is one of the most devastating injuries that has a physical impact on patients. The CHORDATA® method involves suspension and pendulous exercises and has been clinically used to treat patients with TSCI. Although empirically used to treat neurological patients, there is no scientific evidence of the efficacy of this method., Purpose: To evaluate the chronic effects of CHORDATA® method on torque, muscle activation, muscle thickness, and functionality in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury., Methods: Twenty-six male patients with medullar thoracic injury were randomly categorised into two groups: intervention group (n = 14) and control group (n = 12). Rehabilitation program comprised of 16 sessions of body suspension and pendulum exercises (twice/week). The maximal voluntary isometric trunk flexion and extension torques, muscle activation and thickness (external and internal oblique, rectus and transversus abdominis, longissimus, and multifidus muscles), and functionality (adapted reach test) were evaluated before and after of rehabilitation program., Findings: A significant increase was observed in maximal voluntary isometric torque (flexion, 58%; extension, 76%), muscle activation of the rectus abdominis muscle, and muscle thickness of all intervention group muscles, without changes in the control group. Compared to the pre-intervention period, the intervention group also showed improvement in functionality at post-intervention, but no such differences were noted in the control group., Interpretation: The corporal suspension and pendulum exercises training improved rectus abdominis muscle activation, trunk muscles structure and strength, and reaching capacity in medullar thoracic injury patients., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The present study investigated group differences between the thickness changes of the transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) muscles, during performance of the isometric supine chest raise and the supine double leg-straight leg raise tests in women with and without low back pain (LBP)., Method: Twenty women with LBP and 20 women without LBP participated in this case-control study. The thickness of the right TrA, IO, and EO muscles was measured using B-mode ultrasound (US) at rest, immediately at the beginning of performing the tests and when participants in both groups self-reported fatigue. The percentage of change in thickness of the abdominal muscles from rest to the initiation and fatigue stages of both tests was measured., Results: The results indicate a statistically significant difference in the pattern of changes in deep (TrA) and superficial (EO) abdominal muscles thickness at the fatigue stage of the supine double straight-leg raise (SDSLR) test between groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between groups for the abdominal muscles thicknesses change at rest or during stages of the clinical isometric endurance tests (P > 0.05)., Conclusions: An altered activation pattern in the deep (TrA) and superficial (EO) muscles of LBP participants during fatigue stage of the SDSLR test as compared to controls indicates motor control dysfunction in the LBP group. Comparison of the activity of TrA and EO muscles during fatigue stage of SDSLR test can be used to assess alterations in motor control of abdominal muscles.

Background: Abdominal wall pain is considered as pain that arises from the abdominal muscles rather than the underlying viscera or the spine. It is frequently overlooked and is often misdiagnosed, as these patients continue to suffer with pain. Many such patients would have even been subjected to a psychiatric evaluation in view of the absence of any ostensible clinical cause for the pain. In this study, we describe the role of myofascial trigger points in the abdominal wall pain that could be a cause of chronic pain and present our findings of pain relief by dry needling technique., Objectives: To report the effect of dry needling treatment for patients who suffer from chronic abdominal wall pain of uncertain etiology and in whom specific myofascial trigger points were identified., Methods: Twelve patients diagnosed with chronic abdominal wall pain were included in the study. All patients were clinically evaluated and subjected to a combination of imaging techniques. Once categorized as patients suffering from chronic abdominal wall pain, they were subjected to a thorough palpation of the abdominal wall to identify the presence of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) over the abdominal muscles. All had MTrPs over one or more abdominal muscles either unilaterally or bilaterally. Dry Needling using a standard technique was done based on the side and localization of the myofascial trigger points. Numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) was used to measure pain before and after treatment and at the end of four months. All patients were then seen by the primary clinician and re-evaluated., Results: Eleven out of twelve patients had significant reduction with a mean difference 5.95 in NPRS in their pain levels at four months follow up. Seven patients had complete resolution of the pain. Some patients had improvement in complaints such as Dysmenorrhea, Urinary Frequency and constipation., Conclusion: Dry Needling can be a useful adjunct in treating chronic abdominal wall pain especially in those patients in whom Myofascial Trigger Points in the muscles of abdomen are identified by palpation., Level of Evidence: Level 4., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To compare the effects of conventional core stabilization and dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) on anticipatory postural adjustment (APA) time, balance performance, and fear of falls in chronic hemiparetic stroke., Design: Two-group randomized controlled trial with pretest-posttest design., Setting: Hospital rehabilitation center., Participants: Adults with chronic hemiparetic stroke (N=28)., Interventions: Participants were randomly divided into either conventional core stabilization (n=14) or DNS (n=14) groups. Both groups received a total of 20 sessions of conventional core stabilization or DNS training for 30 minutes per session 5 times a week during the 4-week period., Main Outcome Measures: Electromyography was used to measure the APA time for bilateral external oblique (EO), transverse abdominis (TrA)/internal oblique (IO), and erector spinae (ES) activation during rapid shoulder flexion. Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) were used to measure trunk movement control, balance performance, and fear of falling., Results: Baseline APA times were delayed and fear of falling was moderately high in both the conventional core stabilization and DNS groups. After the interventions, the APA times for EO, TrA/IO, and ES were shorter in the DNS group than in the conventional core stabilization group (P<.008). The BBS and TIS scores (P<.008) and the FES score (P<.003) were improved compared with baseline in both groups, but FES remained stable through the 2-year follow-up period only in the DNS group (P<.003)., Conclusions: This is the first clinical evidence highlighting the importance of core stabilization exercises for improving APA control, balance, and fear of falls in individuals with hemiparetic stroke., (Copyright © 2018 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Changes in the recruitment pattern of trunk muscles may contribute to the development of recurrent or chronic symptoms in people with low back pain (LBP). However, the recruitment pattern of trunk muscles during lifting tasks associated with a high risk of LBP has not been clearly determined in recurrent LBP. The present study aimed to investigate potential differences in trunk muscles recruitment patterns between individuals with recurrent LBP and asymptomatic individuals during lifting. The subjects were 25 individuals with recurrent LBP and 20 asymptomatic individuals. Electromyography (EMG) was used to measure onset time, EMG amplitude, overall activity of abdominal muscles, and overall activity of back muscles during a lifting task. The onsets of the transversus abdominis/internal abdominal oblique and multifidus were delayed in the recurrent LBP group despite remission from symptoms. Additionally, the EMG amplitudes of the erector spinae, as well as the overall activity of abdominal muscles or back muscles, were greater in the recurrent LBP group. No differences in EMG amplitude of the external oblique, transversus abdominis/internal abdominal oblique, and multifidus were found between the groups. Our findings indicate the presence of an altered trunk muscle recruitment pattern in individuals with recurrent LBP during lifting., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Therapeutic use of GABA B receptor agonists for conditions like chronic abdominal pain, overactive bladder (OAB) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is severely affected by poor blood-brain barrier permeability and potential side effects. ADX71441 is a novel positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the GABA B receptor that has shown encouraging results in pre-clinical models of anxiety, pain, OAB and alcohol addiction. The present study investigates the analgesic effect of ADX71441 to noxious stimulation of the urinary bladder and colon in rats. In female Sprague-Dawley rats, systemic (i.p), but not intrathecal (i.t), administration of ADX71441 produced a dose-dependent decrease in viscero-motor response (VMR) to graded urinary bladder distension (UBD) and colorectal distension (CRD). Additionally, intra-cerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of ADX71441 significantly decreased the VMRs to noxious UBD. In electrophysiology experiments, the drug did not attenuate the responses of UBD-sensitive pelvic nerve afferent (PNA) fibers to UBD. In contrast, ADX71441 significantly decreased the responses of UBD-responsive lumbosacral (LS) spinal neurons in spinal intact rats. However, ADX71441 did not attenuate these LS neurons in cervical (C1-C2) spinal transected rats. During cystometrogram (CMG) recordings, ADX71441 (i.p.) significantly decreased the VMR to slow infusion without affecting the number of voiding contraction. These results indicate that ADX71441 modulate bladder nociception via its effect at the supra-spinal sites without affecting the normal bladder motility and micturition reflex in naïve adult rats., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Lyons, BC, Mayo, JJ, Tucker, WS, Wax, B, and Hendrix, RC. Electromyographical comparison of muscle activation patterns across 3 commonly performed kettlebell exercises. J Strength Cond Res 31(9): 2363-2370, 2017-The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle activation patterns of 3 different kettlebell (KB) exercises using electromyography (EMG). Fourteen resistance-trained subjects completed a 1-arm swing (Swing), 1-arm swing style snatch (Snatch), and a 1-arm clean (Clean) using a self-selected 8 to 10 repetition maximum load for each exercise. Trial sessions consisted of subjects performing 5 repetitions of each KB exercise. Mean EMG was used to assess the muscle activation of the biceps brachii, anterior deltoid, posterior deltoid, erector spinae (ES), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris, contralateral external oblique (EO), and gluteus maximus during each lift using surface electrodes. The mean EMG was normalized using maximal voluntary contractions obtained from manual muscle testing. Repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed a significant difference in the muscle activation patterns of the ES (Swing > Snatch), EO (Snatch, Clean > Swing), and VL (Swing > Clean) across the 3 KB exercises. We conclude that although the KB Swing, Snatch, and Clean are total body exercises, they place different demands on the ES, contralateral EO, and the VL. Therefore, KBs represent an authentic alternative for lifters, and the Swing, Snatch, and Clean are not redundant exercises.

Background: Postural core instability is associated with poor dynamic balance and a high risk of serious falls. Both neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) and dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) core stabilization exercises have been used to improve core stability, but the outcomes of these treatments remain unclear., Objective: This study was undertaken to examine the therapeutic effects of NDT and DNS core stabilization exercises on muscular activity, core stability, and core muscle thickness., Methods: Ten participants (5 healthy adults; 5 hemiparetic stroke patients) were recruited. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to determine core muscle activity of the transversus abdominis/internal oblique (TrA/IO), external oblique (EO), and rectus abdominis (RA) muscles. Ultrasound imaging was used to measure transversus abdominals/internal oblique (TrA/IO) thickness, and a pressure biofeedback unit (PBU) was used to measure core stability during the DNS and NDT core exercise conditions. Data are reported as median and range and were compared using nonparametric Mann - Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed rank test at p< 0.05., Results: Both healthy and hemiparetic stroke groups showed greater median EMG amplitude in the TrA/IO muscles, core stability, and muscle thickness values during the DNS exercise condition than during the NDT core exercise condition, respectively (p< 0.05). However, the relative changes in the EMG amplitude, core stability, and muscle thickness values were greater during the DNS exercise condition than during the NDT core exercise condition in the hemiparetic stroke patient group (p< 0.05)., Conclusions: Our novel results provide the first clinical evidence that DNS is more effective than NDT in both healthy and hemiparetic stroke subjects to provide superior deep core muscle activation, core stabilization, and muscle thickness. Moreover, such advantageous therapeutic benefits of the DNS core stabilization exercise over the NDT exercise were more apparent in the hemiparetis stroke patients than normal controls.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effect of different postural sets on abdominal muscle activity during breathing in healthy subjects., Methods: Twenty-nine higher education students (20.86 ± 1.48 years; 9 males) breathed at the same rhythm (inspiration: 2 s; expiration: 4 s) in supine, standing, tripod and 4-point-kneeling positions. Surface electromyography was performed to assess the activation intensity of rectus abdominis, external oblique and transversus abdominis/internal oblique muscles during inspiration and expiration., Results: During both breathing phases, the activation intensity of external oblique and transversus abdominis/internal oblique was significantly higher in standing when compared to supine (p ≤ 0.001). No significant differences were found between tripod position and 4-point-kneeling positions. Transversus abdominis/internal oblique activation intensity in these positions was higher than in supine and lower than in standing., Conclusions: Postural load and gravitational stretch are factors that should be considered in relation to the specific recruitment of abdominal muscles for breathing mechanics., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To determine the amplitude of the electromyographic activity of trunk muscles during Pilates exercises in women with and without chronic low back pain (LBP)., Design: Case-control study., Setting: University physical therapy clinic., Participants: Women (N=60) divided into an LBP group and a control group., Interventions: Not applicable., Main Outcome Measures: Amplitude of the electromyographic activity (root mean square values) of the gluteus maximus and external oblique muscles collected during 3 Pilates exercises: Shoulder Bridge performed on the mat, and Hip Roll and Breathing performed in equipment. Pain intensity was assessed in the LBP group., Results: The amplitude of the electromyographic activity was similar between groups (P≥.05). For both groups, the amplitude of the gluteus maximus was higher in the Shoulder Bridge exercise compared with the Hip Roll with 2 springs (control group: mean difference [MD]=.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], .05-.41; LBP group: MD=.29; 95% CI, .16-.31) and the Breathing exercise (control group: MD=-.40; 95% CI, -.55 to -.26; LBP group: MD=-.36; 95% CI, -.52 to -.20). The amplitude of the external oblique muscle was higher in the Shoulder Bridge compared with the Hip Roll with 2 springs (control group: MD=.13; 95% CI, .05-.21; LBP group: MD=.18; 95% CI, .03-.33). Pain intensity increased after exercises, but this increase was lower for the mat exercises., Conclusions: Similar muscle activation between groups was found. The findings suggest that mat exercises caused less pain and a greater difference in the amplitude of muscle activation compared with the equipment-based exercises., (Copyright © 2016 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated the effects of weight-shifting exercise (WSE) combined with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), applied to the erector spinae and external oblique (EO) muscles, on muscle activity and trunk control in patients with hemiparetic stroke. Sixty patients with stroke were recruited to this study and randomly distributed into three treatment groups: (1) WSE + TENS, (2) WSE + placebo TENS, and (3) control. All participants underwent 30 sessions of training (30 minutes five times per week for 6 weeks) and received 1 hour of conventional physical therapy five times per week for 6 weeks. Muscle activity, maximum reaching distance and trunk impairment scale scores were assessed in all patients before and after the training. After training, the WSE + TENS group showed significant increase in the EO activity, maximum reaching distance and trunk impairment scale scores compared with the WSE + placebo TENS and control groups. These findings suggest that WSE with TENS applied to the erector spinae and EO muscles increased the trunk muscle activity and improved trunk control. Therefore, WSE with TENS could be a beneficial intervention in clinical settings for individuals with hemiparetic stroke. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., (Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)