Effects of posture on abdominal muscle shortening in awake dogs

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of posture on tonic and phasic expiratory activity of the abdominal muscles in awake dogs. Six tracheostomized dogs were chronically instrumented with sonomicrometer transducers and bipolar electromyographic electrodes placed in each of the four abdominal muscles. To determine the effects of posture on tonic and phasic activity of individual abdominal muscles, muscle resting length (Lr) and tidal length changes (%Lr), respectively, were measured in awake dogs in the left lateral decubitus (LLD), sitting, and standing (STAND) positions. The transversus abdominis Lr consistently shortened when the dog was moved from LLD to STAND and lengthened when the dog was moved from LLD to the sitting position, and the external oblique Lr consistently lengthened when the dog went from LLD to STAND. The internal oblique and rectus abdominis had no consistent changes in Lr with a change in position. All four abdominal muscles actively shortened (%Lr) more in the upright positions. In addition, the internal layer (transversus abdominis and internal oblique) actively shortened more than the external layer (rectus abdominis and external oblique). In conclusion, both tonic and phasic respiratory activity of the abdominal muscles, reflected by changes in Lr and %Lr, respectively, were affected by changes in posture.