Comparison of the recruitment of transverse abdominis through drawing-in and bracing in different core stability training positions.

Abstract

There are many proposed core stability exercises in a variety of positions; however, it is not clear that in which position, activation of transverse abdominis muscle is utmost. We aimed to compare the activation of transverse abdominis muscle in different core stability exercise positions through ultrasound imaging. in a 20 subjects’ study we compared the effectiveness of drawing-in and bracing maneuvers on transverse abdominis in different core stability exercise positions (supine, hook lying, supine with 90° flexed knee and hip, supine with stretched knees and 90° flexed hips, bridge, bridge with one stretched knee and Bird dog). We used activation ratio and preferential activation ratio as measurements of transverse abdominis activation. Abdominal Bracing in the bridge position showed the highest activation of transverse abdominis (P<0.05). The results showed significantly higher activation of transverse abdominis, measured by preferential activation ratio, in bridge position during abdominal bracing.