Takashi M1,2, Taishi M2, Rina S3
1Tokyo Kasei University, Rehabilitation Faculty of Health Sciences, Sayama, Japan, 2Arakawa Orthopedic Rehabilitation Clinic, Tokyo, Japan, 3Kyorin University, Physical Therapy Faculty of Health Sciences, Mitaka, Japan
Background: The role of the transversus abdominis, one of the inner body muscles, has been examined in several recent studies. This muscle is involved in changes of abdominal pressure via the thoracolumbar fascia. This fascia covers the muscles of the back, with its posterior and anterior lobes extending outward from the spinous and transverse processes, respectively. In the lower back, the two lobes fit together at the lateral border of the back muscles to serve as the tendons of origin of the transversus abdominis and internal oblique muscle. An increase in the muscle cross-sectional area upon contraction of the back muscles may be inhibited when the thoracolumbar fascia tenses up, increasing muscle hardness and strength. Measurements of skeletal muscle have been performed using the fascia in high echo ultrasound images, but few studies have focused on changes in the fascia position.
Purpose: We measured changes in the location of the anterior lobe of the thoracolumbar fascia at rest and upon contraction of the transversus abdominis using two ultrasound systems.
Methods: The subjects were 30 healthy male adults. One ultrasound apparatus was used to image the anterior lobe of the thoracolumbar fascia, and the other apparatus was used to confirm the transversus abdominis. Measurements were performed with the extremities placed at an abdominal position on a bed. Images at rest were taken after expiration. Upon contraction, images obtained from the second apparatus were used to ensure selective contraction of the transversus abdominis. The anterior lobe of the thoracolumbar fascia upon contraction was extracted from images from the first apparatus. The spinous process, transverse process, and tendons of origin of the transversus abdominis and internal oblique muscles were used as major indexes on the images, and were measured on the right and left sides in no particular order. Still images were extracted from the video obtained at rest and upon contraction of the transversus abdominis to determine the location of the thoracolumbar fascia under both conditions.
Results: The location of the thoracolumbar fascia on the images significantly moved towards the inner body muscles after contraction of the transversus abdominis (p 0.05).
Conclusion(s): The transversus abdominis moved to a deeper region together with the thoracolumbar fascia, and this decreased the internal diameter of the abdomen and increased the abdominal pressure, thus contributing to the stability of the spine. In evaluating this function, we were able to show transfer of the thoracolumbar fascia to a deep region and increased thickness of the transversus abdominis simultaneously using two ultrasound apparatuses.
Implications: Visualization and quantification of the movement of the thoracolumbar fascia and transversus abdominis are likely to be important as a basis for treatment involving spinal stability.
Keywords: thoracolumbar fascia, transversus abdominis, ultrasound images
Funding acknowledgements: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Purpose: We measured changes in the location of the anterior lobe of the thoracolumbar fascia at rest and upon contraction of the transversus abdominis using two ultrasound systems.
Methods: The subjects were 30 healthy male adults. One ultrasound apparatus was used to image the anterior lobe of the thoracolumbar fascia, and the other apparatus was used to confirm the transversus abdominis. Measurements were performed with the extremities placed at an abdominal position on a bed. Images at rest were taken after expiration. Upon contraction, images obtained from the second apparatus were used to ensure selective contraction of the transversus abdominis. The anterior lobe of the thoracolumbar fascia upon contraction was extracted from images from the first apparatus. The spinous process, transverse process, and tendons of origin of the transversus abdominis and internal oblique muscles were used as major indexes on the images, and were measured on the right and left sides in no particular order. Still images were extracted from the video obtained at rest and upon contraction of the transversus abdominis to determine the location of the thoracolumbar fascia under both conditions.
Results: The location of the thoracolumbar fascia on the images significantly moved towards the inner body muscles after contraction of the transversus abdominis (p 0.05).
Conclusion(s): The transversus abdominis moved to a deeper region together with the thoracolumbar fascia, and this decreased the internal diameter of the abdomen and increased the abdominal pressure, thus contributing to the stability of the spine. In evaluating this function, we were able to show transfer of the thoracolumbar fascia to a deep region and increased thickness of the transversus abdominis simultaneously using two ultrasound apparatuses.
Implications: Visualization and quantification of the movement of the thoracolumbar fascia and transversus abdominis are likely to be important as a basis for treatment involving spinal stability.
Keywords: thoracolumbar fascia, transversus abdominis, ultrasound images
Funding acknowledgements: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Topic: Musculoskeletal: spine; Education; Musculoskeletal
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Kyorin University
Ethics committee: Ethical Review Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences,Kyorin University
Ethics number: 29-69
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
