An Investigation of the Association between Transversus Abdominis Myofascial Structure and Activation with Age in Healthy Adults using Ultrasound Imaging
# Background Because of their importance in core stability, training the deep abdominal muscles, fascial structures and particularly the transversus abdominis, is a key component of many sport and physical therapy programs. However, there are gaps in knowledge about age-related changes in the struct...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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North American Sports Medicine Institute
2021-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.25168 |
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| _version_ | 1825197001666461696 |
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| author | Nathaly Gaudreault Justine Benoît-Piau Jan Paul van Wingerden Carla Stecco Frédérique Daigle Guillaume Léonard |
| author_facet | Nathaly Gaudreault Justine Benoît-Piau Jan Paul van Wingerden Carla Stecco Frédérique Daigle Guillaume Léonard |
| author_sort | Nathaly Gaudreault |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | # Background
Because of their importance in core stability, training the deep abdominal muscles, fascial structures and particularly the transversus abdominis, is a key component of many sport and physical therapy programs. However, there are gaps in knowledge about age-related changes in the structure and activation capacity of these muscles.
# Hypothesis/Purpose
This study investigated the association between deep abdominal muscles and fascial structures and transversus abdominis activation with age in healthy adults.
# Study design
A cross-sectional study.
# Methods
Eighty-six adults aged 18 to 77 participated in this study. An ultrasound image of their transversus abdominis, internal oblique, external oblique and associated fasciae was first captured at rest, then during a contraction of the transversus abdominis. Bivariate correlation analyses and hierarchical analyses were performed (significance level: *p* \< 0.05).
# Results
The thickness of these three muscles decreases with age ($\rho$ = -0.66 for external oblique, -0.51 for internal oblique and -0.58 for transversus abdominis), whereas the thickness of their fasciae increases ($\rho$ = 0.39 for the fascia of external oblique, 0.54 for the fascia between internal oblique and external oblique, and 0.74 for the fascia between internal oblique and transversus abdominis). Transversus abdominis activation decreases with age (*r* =-0.44). Age accounts for 19.5% of the variance in transversus abdominis activation.
# Conclusion
These results demonstrate that normal aging is associated with changes in deep abdominal myofascial structures and transversus abdominis activation. Assessment of these metrics can provide valuable baseline information for physical therapists involved in rehabilitation and strengthening programs targeting older individuals.
# Level of evidence
Level 2 |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-36c0ecbcdd1347aa8e84dfd3a4ab8467 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2159-2896 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | North American Sports Medicine Institute |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-36c0ecbcdd1347aa8e84dfd3a4ab84672025-02-11T20:27:57ZengNorth American Sports Medicine InstituteInternational Journal of Sports Physical Therapy2159-28962021-08-01164An Investigation of the Association between Transversus Abdominis Myofascial Structure and Activation with Age in Healthy Adults using Ultrasound ImagingNathaly GaudreaultJustine Benoît-PiauJan Paul van WingerdenCarla SteccoFrédérique DaigleGuillaume Léonard# Background Because of their importance in core stability, training the deep abdominal muscles, fascial structures and particularly the transversus abdominis, is a key component of many sport and physical therapy programs. However, there are gaps in knowledge about age-related changes in the structure and activation capacity of these muscles. # Hypothesis/Purpose This study investigated the association between deep abdominal muscles and fascial structures and transversus abdominis activation with age in healthy adults. # Study design A cross-sectional study. # Methods Eighty-six adults aged 18 to 77 participated in this study. An ultrasound image of their transversus abdominis, internal oblique, external oblique and associated fasciae was first captured at rest, then during a contraction of the transversus abdominis. Bivariate correlation analyses and hierarchical analyses were performed (significance level: *p* \< 0.05). # Results The thickness of these three muscles decreases with age ($\rho$ = -0.66 for external oblique, -0.51 for internal oblique and -0.58 for transversus abdominis), whereas the thickness of their fasciae increases ($\rho$ = 0.39 for the fascia of external oblique, 0.54 for the fascia between internal oblique and external oblique, and 0.74 for the fascia between internal oblique and transversus abdominis). Transversus abdominis activation decreases with age (*r* =-0.44). Age accounts for 19.5% of the variance in transversus abdominis activation. # Conclusion These results demonstrate that normal aging is associated with changes in deep abdominal myofascial structures and transversus abdominis activation. Assessment of these metrics can provide valuable baseline information for physical therapists involved in rehabilitation and strengthening programs targeting older individuals. # Level of evidence Level 2https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.25168 |
| spellingShingle | Nathaly Gaudreault Justine Benoît-Piau Jan Paul van Wingerden Carla Stecco Frédérique Daigle Guillaume Léonard An Investigation of the Association between Transversus Abdominis Myofascial Structure and Activation with Age in Healthy Adults using Ultrasound Imaging International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| title | An Investigation of the Association between Transversus Abdominis Myofascial Structure and Activation with Age in Healthy Adults using Ultrasound Imaging |
| title_full | An Investigation of the Association between Transversus Abdominis Myofascial Structure and Activation with Age in Healthy Adults using Ultrasound Imaging |
| title_fullStr | An Investigation of the Association between Transversus Abdominis Myofascial Structure and Activation with Age in Healthy Adults using Ultrasound Imaging |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Investigation of the Association between Transversus Abdominis Myofascial Structure and Activation with Age in Healthy Adults using Ultrasound Imaging |
| title_short | An Investigation of the Association between Transversus Abdominis Myofascial Structure and Activation with Age in Healthy Adults using Ultrasound Imaging |
| title_sort | investigation of the association between transversus abdominis myofascial structure and activation with age in healthy adults using ultrasound imaging |
| url | https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.25168 |
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