Assessment of transverse abdominal muscle symmetry by ultrasonography

One of the methods of assessing the transverse abdominal muscle is ultrasonography, which visualizes its thickness and location. We set out to answer the question if the transverse abdominal muscle can always be treated as located symmetrically among the trunk structures.

A group of 113 volunteers took part in the study. The volunteers did not experience any severe pain of musculoskeletal structures as determined by the VAS and ODI scales. The location of the transverse abdominal muscle (TRA) was determined with a Honda NS 2100 ultrasound system. Basing on original methodology, the distance between the place where the transverse abdominal muscle tendon becomes the muscle belly and the linea alba was measured. The next stage was the assessment of correlation of pain.

The results in the study group show a statistically significant difference in the distance between the place where the transverse abdominal muscle tendon becomes the muscle belly and the linea alba between left and right. No correlation was found between the asymmetry and pain intensity.

1. Differences in the distance between the transverse abdominal muscle and the linea alba on left and right side of the body were discovered in the study group. 2. No correlations were found between the presence of an asymmetry and lumbar pain in the study group.