Article

To date, a range of exercises have been used to improve the function of the
lumbar multifidus (LM) and transversus abdominis (TrA) muscles in people with low
back pain, but uncertainty remains as to what exactly constitutes meaningful LM
and TrA training. We examined the effects of exercising with a new device which
combines weight-bearing, an unstable base of support (BOS) (feet), an upright
posture with a relatively stable lumbo-pelvic area, and functional lower limb
movement, with the aim of exploring which of these elements may be effective, in
increasing LM and TrA muscle activity. Twelve non-symptomatic participants had
ultrasound images taken of their LM and TrA during a range of conditions,
including rest, traditional exercise approaches to LM and TrA recruitment, and
exercising on the new device. Our results indicate that an unstable BOS on its
own is not enough to increase LM and TrA activity, and that a combination of
weight-bearing, an unstable BOS (feet), an upright posture with a relatively
stable lumbo-pelvic area, and functional lower limb movement is most effective at
increasing LM and TrA activity. This way of exercising appears to recruit LM more
effectively than the widely used "swelling" of LM, and to cause automatic TrA and
LM recruitment. Importantly, our findings also indicate LM and TrA may have slightly different roles during trunk stabilisation.

Langue : ANGLAIS