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The influence of rotational movement exercise on the abdominal muscle thickness and trunk mobility - Randomized
Paweł Niewiadomy1, Katarzyna Szuścik-Niewiadomy2, Michał Kuszewski3
1Department of Balneoclimatology and Biological Regeneration, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.
Background:
Trunk rotations are important functional movements which form the foundations of human motion pattern, especially in the functions of walking and running. They prevent the functional impairments and structural lesions resulting from axial overloading in static positions such as sitting.
Objectives:
The aim of the study was to assess the influence of rotational movement training exercises on the abdominal muscle thickness and spinal mobility range.
Study Design:
Randomized controlled trial.
Methods:
The study involved 73 individuals aged 18-45. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups. The study group (TG) comprised 40 people who performed rotational movement exercises over the period of 4 weeks (16 training sessions). In the control group (CG) the training was not applied. Changes in the thickness of selected abdominal muscles on ultrasound imaging were evaluated, as well as trunk mobility, based on the trunk lateral flexion test.
Results:
The analysis of the obtained data has demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the thickness of the abdominal internal (IO) (p < 0.05) and external oblique muscles (EO) (p < 0.001) in the study group (TG) between measurements I and II, and measurements I and III. A similar increase in the thickness was found in the summation measurement of TrA + IO + EO. Bilateral increase in the trunk lateral flexion range in the frontal plane has also been noted.
Conclusions:
Rotational movement training of the trunk leads to an increase in the thickness of the abdominal oblique muscles. Rotational movement exercise training increases trunk mobility in the frontal plane.
