Transversus Abdominis and Lumbar Multifidus Thickness Among Three Dance Positions in Argentine Tango Dancers

Core muscle function is considered a risk factor for low back pain appearance in dancers. The purpose of this study was to examine the transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus thickness among Argentine Tango dancers in different functional dance positions. A secondary purpose was to compare muscle thickness at rest and contraction between dancers and untrained participants. Ten trained dancers and ten untrained women aged 33.8 ± 6.09 years participated in this study. Using ultrasonography, the transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus muscle thickness were measured at rest and during contraction in three different dance positions: Basic in Open embrace, Basic in Close embrace, and Volcada. The results showed a significant increase in muscle thickness during contraction compared to thickness at rest for both muscles (p < 0.05). The group of dancers showed a greater transversus abdominis thickness than the untrained group (p < 0.05). Further, transversus abdominal thickness progressively increased from Basic in Open embrace to Basic in Close embrace position, as well as from Basic in Close embrace to Volcada position in dancers (p < 0.05), while fewer changes between positions were found for the untrained group. Multifidus muscle thickness also differed between positions, but no group differences were observed (p > 0.05). Training exercises in these Argentine Tango positions may be beneficial for the performance and prevention of low back pain, especially in Argentine Tango dancers.