Abdominal Muscles
Conditions
Brief summary
This study evaluates the effect of a rotation based exercise program on core muscle thickness. Additionally, a second aim is to demonstrate the ability of a clinical assessment tool to identify muscle thickness changes. Half of participants receive the rotation based exercises, while the other half perform a traditional core exercise program. It was hypothesized that the rotation based exercises would result in greater changes in muscle thickness.
Detailed description
A number of exercise programs and assessment tools have been evaluated for their ability to influence and measure the core muscles. Inefficient stability and asymmetrical muscle activity of the core have been linked to a wide range of lower extremity injuries. Training of the abdominal muscles to obtain symmetrical recruitment for optimal trunk stabilization is a widespread clinical practice, however valid and reliable assessment tools and effective intervention protocols are lacking. This study uniquely uses both a clinical assessment tool and musculoskeletal ultrasound to measure changes in the core muscles following an exercise intervention. The overall purpose of this study was to design a valid and reliable assessment tool and an effective training protocol to activate the core muscles.
Interventions
OTHERRotation Exercises
The subjects received 7 trunk rotation stability exercises x 10 reps each
OTHERControl Exercises
The subjects received 7 traditional exercises x 10 reps each
Sponsors
Christiana Care Health Services
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SCREENING
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
° Undergraduate and graduate subjects from the University of the Delaware student community.
Exclusion criteria
* You could be excluded if you have recently undergone surgery in the last 6 months. * Currently suffering from low back pain. * Or have a history of a neurological condition.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in Muscle Thickness | Baseline and 10 minutes post intervention | Musculoskeletal ultrasound measured changes in muscle thickness |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in Clinical Muscle Assessment Using the Novel Sling Screen | Baseline and 10 minutes post intervention | Clinician based assessment of muscle function using the sling screen tool; Kappa coefficients were calculated to examine agreement between the 2 physical therapists that completed the sling screen assessments and to account for chance effects in scoring. A rating system was used for scoring performance. Min value on the scale is 2 and max value = 5; higher score is a better outcome. |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Rotation Exercises 8 minute program of rotation based exercises
Rotation Exercises: The subjects received 7 trunk rotation stability exercises x 10 reps each | 16 |
| Control Exercises 8 minute program of traditional exercises
Control Exercises: The subjects received 7 traditional exercises x 10 reps each | 15 |
| Total | 31 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Control Exercises | Total | Rotation Exercises |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Categorical <=18 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical >=65 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years | 15 Participants | 31 Participants | 16 Participants |
| Age, Continuous | 20.7 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.5 | 20.8 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.7 | 21 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.5 |
| Race and Ethnicity Not Collected | — | 0 Participants | — |
| Region of Enrollment United States | 15 participants | 31 participants | 16 participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 10 Participants | 21 Participants | 11 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 5 Participants | 10 Participants | 5 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | — / — | — / — |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 16 | 0 / 15 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 16 | 0 / 15 |
Outcome results
Primary
Changes in Muscle Thickness
Musculoskeletal ultrasound measured changes in muscle thickness
Time frame: Baseline and 10 minutes post intervention
Population: External Oblique
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) |
|---|---|---|
| Rotation Exercises | Changes in Muscle Thickness | .820 centimeters |
| Control Exercises | Changes in Muscle Thickness | .671 centimeters |
Secondary
Changes in Clinical Muscle Assessment Using the Novel Sling Screen
Clinician based assessment of muscle function using the sling screen tool; Kappa coefficients were calculated to examine agreement between the 2 physical therapists that completed the sling screen assessments and to account for chance effects in scoring. A rating system was used for scoring performance. Min value on the scale is 2 and max value = 5; higher score is a better outcome.
Time frame: Baseline and 10 minutes post intervention
Population: Anterior Sling
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rotation Exercises | Changes in Clinical Muscle Assessment Using the Novel Sling Screen | -2.02 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.04 |
| Control Exercises | Changes in Clinical Muscle Assessment Using the Novel Sling Screen | -1.82 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.07 |