The Effect Thoracolumbar Fascia on the Abdominal Muscle

March 18, 2025 updated by: Koç University

The Effect of Activation of Thoracolumbar Fascia on the Thickness of Abdominal Muscles; an Ultrasonographic Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the thickness of abdominal muscles during activation of thoracolumbar fascia through contracting the gluteus maximus and latissimus dorsi muscles. The hypothesis was that the thickness of transversus abdominis and internal oblique would show greater increase when abdominal contraction was performed with simultaneous contraction of gluteus maximus and latissimus dorsi (bridge with arm extension) than that of abdominal contraction alone (abdominal hollowing) or abdominal contraction with simultaneous activation of only gluteus maximus (bridge). Thirty healthy subjects (15 women, 15 men) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Thickness of transversus abdominis, internal oblique and external oblique muscles were evaluated using ultrasound at rest and during three exercise positions: abdominal hollowing in neutral spine, bridge, and bridge with isometric arm extension using ultrasound device equipped with 55 mm convex array transducer

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Spinal stabilization is crucial in maintaining healthy posture. Core muscle activation could be enhanced using thoracolumbar fascia for this stability.

Core, also called 'power house', is a muscular box built from abdominal muscles in the front, paraspinal, and gluteal muscles at the back, diaphragm at the top, and pelvic floor muscles at the bottom. Deep core muscles control intersegmental motion and respond to postural and extrinsic load changes and consist of transversus abdominis, internal oblique, multifidi and pelvic floor muscles.

Myofascial system links latissimus dorsi and gluteus maximus through thoracolumbar fascia causing tensegrity-like network in the whole body.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the thickness of abdominal muscles during activation of thoracolumbar fascia through contracting the gluteus maximus and latissimus dorsi muscles. The hypothesis was that the thickness of transversus abdominis and internal oblique would show greater increase when abdominal contraction was performed with simultaneous contraction of gluteus maximus and latissimus dorsi (bridge with arm extension) than that of abdominal contraction alone (abdominal hollowing) or abdominal contraction with simultaneous activation of only gluteus maximus (bridge).

Thirty healthy subjects (15 women, 15 men) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Thickness of transversus abdominis, internal oblique and external oblique muscles were evaluated using ultrasound at rest and during three exercise positions: abdominal hollowing in neutral spine, bridge, and bridge with isometric arm extension using ultrasound device equipped with 55 mm convex array transducer.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

30

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey
      • Istanbul, Turkey, 34010
        • Koç University School of Medicine

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

healthy hospital staff

Description

age of >18 years absence of back or abdominal problems.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
single group
healthy subjects
Other: ultrasonographic measurement of abdominal muscle thickness at four positions
Thickness of transversus abdominis, internal oblique and external oblique muscles were evaluated using ultrasound at rest and during abdominal hollowing, bridge, and bridge with isometric arm extension.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in ultrasonographic thickness of abdominal muscles
Time Frame: 1 day (Change of muscle thickness from rest to exercise positions)
The ultrasound transducer was placed over an intersection point of two imaginary lines: one line passing horizontally from the level of navel and the second line running vertically through the anterior superior iliac spine. Subsequent images were obtained at rest, during abdominal hollowing, bridge and bridge with arm extension. Thicknesses of the muscles were measured using onscreen caliper. Results were recorded in millimeters.
1 day (Change of muscle thickness from rest to exercise positions)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Koç University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Ozden Ozyemisci Taskiran, Prof, Koç University School of Medicine

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 1, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 29, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

March 29, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 1, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 1, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

October 3, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 18, 2025

Last Verified

October 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2019.100.IRB1.012

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

It was not planned to share individual participant data.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Muscle Strength

Clinical Trials on ultrasonographic measurement of abdominal muscle thickness at four positions

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Austria

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe