Optimisation of Rehabilitative Ultrasonography Imaging in activation of transversus abdominis internal oblique and external oblique muscles in Indian population

Abstract

The objective of the study was: newline1. To compare activation of transversus abdominis contraction ratio (TrA CR) and internal external oblique contraction ratio (IOEO CR) in asymptomatic healthy and Mechanical Low Back Pain (MLBP) individuals. newline2. Secondly, how effective is the USG as a visual biofeedback tool for TrA activation during a 6-week intervention in asymptomatic population was studied. newlineMethodology: A) To compare between asymptomatic (n=93) and MLBP(n=27) individuals were recruited by word of mouth between the age group of 20-50 years of both genders and normal body mass index (BMI). The individuals were explained about the anatomy of the abdominal muscles using an educational video and were trained for the abdominal draw-in maneuver by the physiotherapist. The therapist instructed the individual to maintain the ADIM in supine for 10 seconds by counting loudly. The radiologist captured the USG images at rest, and between the 3rd and 5th second of the loud counting for standardization. Muscle thickness of transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) was measured in centimeters using ultrasonography imaging. newlineResults: The results of the study reveal the following: newline1. Significant difference between TrA CR in asymptomatic vs mechanical low back pain (t= 3.69 asymptomatic 1.69 gt 1.05 MLBP, p lt 0.001). newline2. Age (r = 0.04), gender (r=0.00) and BMI (r = 0.20) showed weak positive correlation with muscle contraction ratios. newline3. The difference between pre and post TrA CR value was statistically significant p lt 0. 001 in the asymptomatic population. newline4. RM-ANOVA reveal an increase in thickness week-wise (Wilk s lambda = 0.189, F = 12.03; p lt 0.001) with an effect size of 0.81 from 1st week to 6th week. newlineConclusion: Abdominal muscle contraction ratios calculated using USG can categorize and predict between asymptomatic and mechanical low back pain individuals. Age, gender, and BMI have a low association with abdominal muscle thickness in asy newlinemptomatic and low back pain. Visual biofeedback is