Abstract
Background The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of transverses abdominis and lumbar multifidus thickness activation and electromyogram signal characteristics after core stability training monitored by rehabilitative ultrasound imaging and surface electromyogram. Methods 60 healthy volunteers were allocated randomly into two groups, one of which received monitoring training and the other participated identical training without monitoring. Ultrasound image and surface electromyogram signal were collected at 0, 4, and 8 weeks during training. The muscle thickness activation ratio value and integrated electromyogram value were then extracted. During the training, the monitoring group was monitored by real-time rehabilitative ultrasound imaging and surface electromyogram while the control group was not. Results There are no differences in performance of local core muscles between both groups before training (p > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the thickness contraction ratio value and integrated electromyogram value of core muscles in the monitoring group were higher after 8 weeks' training (p < 0.05). Conclusion Together, the core stability training monitored by rehabilitative ultrasound imaging and surface electromyogram can markedly activate and enhance local core muscles in healthy people, providing a potential strategy to treat low back pain more effectively.
Highlights
Low back pain (LBP) is a common disease bothering most populations in both developed and developing countries [1, 2]
Core muscles are categorized into global muscles and local muscles by function [11]. e global muscles participate in trunk movements, whereas the local muscles play an important role in core stabilization [12]
To investigate the effect of core stability training monitored by rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) and surface EMG, two methods were used to monitor core stability training in the monitoring group. e monitoring group received specific core stability training monitored by RUSI and surface EMG, while the control group finished the same training plan without monitoring
Summary
Low back pain (LBP) is a common disease bothering most populations in both developed and developing countries [1, 2]. Core stability was defined as the ability to maintain a stable neutral spine position and core stability training has been proved to be useful in the treatment of LBP through decreasing pain [6,7,8], reducing disability [9], and preventing relapse [10]. Core muscles are categorized into global muscles (namely, the rectus abdominis, erector spinae, and obliquus externus abdominis) and local muscles (namely, transverse abdominis and lumbar multifidus) by function [11]. E global muscles participate in trunk movements, whereas the local muscles play an important role in core stabilization [12]. The transverse abdominis (TrA) and lumbar multifidus (MF) play important roles in the functional activities of spine. The application of core stability training targeting TrA and MF needs further optimization and innovation because of uncertainty
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