Are There Any Differences in Abdominal Activation between Women and Men during Hypopressive Exercises?

Iria Da Cuña-Carrera,Mercedes Soto-González,Alejandra Alonso-Calvete,Eva M Lantarón-Caeiro

doi:10.3390/ijerph18136984

Iria Da Cuña-Carrera, Mercedes Soto-González + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18136984

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Abstract

This study analyzes the effects of hypopressive exercises on the abdominal thickness of healthy subjects and compares the performance between women and men. We conducted a transversal observational study in 98 subjects (63% women). The muscle thickness is analyzed in transversus abdominis, internal oblique, external oblique, and rectus abdominis with ultrasound imaging at rest and during the hypopressive exercise (HE) in supine and standing position. Comparisons between rest and hypopressive exercise are carried out in the two different positions and between women and men. In the supine position, there is a significant activation of the transversus abdominis and internal oblique during hypopressive exercise (p < 0.001), and it is similar in both sexes, the external oblique is only activated significantly by men (p < 0.001) and rectus abdominis had no significant activation (p > 0.05). Our results show that standing transversus abdominis and external oblique significantly increased their thickness during HE with higher effects in men. Internal oblique also increased significantly, but with higher effects in women, and rectus abdominis had no significant increase. Men had similar effects to women during HE, with an activation of the deepest abdominal muscles. The unequal anatomy and the position could explain the different results obtained between the sexes.

Highlights

Hypopressive exercises (HE) are described as postural techniques performed through breathing in combination with apnea in different positions [1]
HE are mainly performed by women, with benefits in pelvic floor dysfunctions or urinary incontinence [2,3,4,5,6,7,8], but recently new scientific research has demonstrated that men with urinary incontinence, scoliosis, or low back pain could be benefited from these exercises [9,10,11,12]
The internal and external oblique in the abdominal wall of men continue with the cremaster muscle and cremaster fascia, but in women, this area does not exist, and the fascia of the obliques continues with the round ligament [16]

Summary

Introduction

Hypopressive exercises (HE) are described as postural techniques performed through breathing in combination with apnea in different positions [1] These exercises are demonstrated to decrease intraabdominal pressure and activate the pelvic floor muscles and the abdominal wall, and they are designed for the prevention and treatment of perineal dysfunctions, especially in postpartum [1]. The internal and external oblique in the abdominal wall of men continue with the cremaster muscle and cremaster fascia, but in women, this area does not exist, and the fascia of the obliques continues with the round ligament [16]. HE could have different effects on the abdominal muscles between men and women, but there is a lack of knowledge in this sense and especially in the effects of HE in men, as most studies included only women in their samples [17,18,19,20]

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Discussion

Conclusion