• Core muscles
• External cue
• Internal cue
• Lumbopelvic stability
• Muscle activation
• Pressure biofeedback unit

• Gestational diabetes
• pelvic floor muscle
• transverse abdominal muscle
• urinary incontinence

• Humans
• Female
• Diabetes, Gestational/therapy
• Pregnancy
• Pelvic Floor/physiopathology
• Adult
• Urinary Incontinence/therapy
• Urinary Incontinence/etiology
• Urinary Incontinence/physiopathology
• Urinary Incontinence/psychology
• Quality of Life
• Exercise Therapy/methods
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Abdominal Muscles/physiopathology
• Treatment Outcome

• External focus
• External resistance
• Hip abduction
• Muscle activity
• Paper balloon task
• Rehabilitation

• Humans
• Male
• Adult
• Young Adult
• Isometric Contraction/physiology
• Resistance Training/methods
• Muscle, Skeletal/physiology
• Electromyography
• Hip/physiology

• balance
• fine-wire EMG
• local vibration
• motor control

• Humans
• Male
• Postural Balance/physiology
• Kinesthesis/physiology
• Abdominal Muscles/physiology
• Illusions/physiology
• Adult
• Young Adult
• Electromyography
• Vibration

• Abdominal Muscle
• Biofeedback
• Ultrasonography

• animation
• mode of instruction
• multimedia learning

• Co-contraction resistance exercise
• Transversus abdominis
• Urinary incontinence

[Purpose] This study examined the measurement reliability and cooperative movement of the pelvic floor and transverse abdominal muscles. [Participants and Methods] The participants were seven healthy adult females. Transverse abdominal muscle thickness and bladder floor elevation were measured under the following conditions during active exercise and during resistance exercise: the resting state, maximum contraction of the transverse abdominal muscle, maximum contraction of the pelvic floor muscle, and maximum co-contraction of the transverse abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. Measurements were taken at rest and under each exercise condition. [Results] The intraclass correlation coefficients of transverse abdominal muscle thickness and bladder floor elevation showed high reproducibility under all conditions. The maximum contraction of the pelvic floor muscle showed a high correlation with the maximum co-contraction of the transverse abdominal muscle and pelvic floor muscle during resistance exercise. A significant regression line was found between transverse abdominal muscle thickness and bladder floor elevation under all conditions. The regression equation was as follows: transverse abdominal muscle thickness=0.113 bladder floor elevation+0.377 (r²=0.21). [Conclusion] This study demonstrated that the measurement reliability of the transverse abdominal and pelvic floor muscles is high, and that both muscles exhibit cooperative movement.

• Cooperative movement
• Pelvic floor muscle
• Transverse abdominal muscle

Chronic low back pain (CLBP), which has a close relationship with lumbar muscle degeneration, can be effectively treated by exercise therapy, and yoga has been widely accepted by clinicians and patients with CLBP. The purpose of this study was to observe the changes in the thickness of lumbodorsal muscles that occur during locust pose in yoga and how these changes occur. From the changes in muscle thickness that occur in the locust pose, the contractile function of lumbodorsal muscles can be evaluated.

Fifty-two healthy volunteers (from May 2019 to August 2019, age from 28 to 68 years, 23 males and 29 females (age: 40 ± 8 years; weight: 68.3 ± 5.2 kg; height: 170.2 ± 13.1 cm) were recruited, and lumbodorsal muscle, including the multifidus, longissimus, iliocostalis, and quadratus lumborum, ultrasonic examinations were carried out in the relaxed and contracted states. The changes in the thickness of the lumbodorsal muscles in the relaxed and contracted states were dynamically observed by real-time ultrasound when subjects were performing the locust yoga pose. Then, the thicknesses of the muscles during the two states were measured to calculate the ratio of contraction of each muscle and determine the statistical significance of the change in thickness of each muscle.

The mean thickness of the left multifidus in the relaxed state was 1.32 ± 0.27 cm (95 % CI: 1.24 ~ 1.39), that in the contracted state was 1.60 ± 0.30 cm (95 % CI: 1.52 ~ 1.69) (obviously different between the relaxed and contracted states, P < 0.001), and those in the corresponding right side were 1.37 ± 0.31 cm (95 % CI: 1.29 ~ 2.46) and 1.68 ± 0.38 cm (95 % CI: 1.58 ~ 1.79) (P < 0.001), respectively. The mean thickness of the left quadratus lumborum in the relaxed state was 1.38 ± 0.32 cm (95 % CI: 1.29 ~ 1.47), that in the contracted state was 1.62 ± 0.40 cm (95 % CI: 1.50 ~ 1.73) (P = 0.001), and those in the corresponding right side were 1.30 ± 0.32 cm (95 % CI: 1.21 ~ 1.39) and 1.55 ± 0.41 cm (95 % CI: 1.44 ~ 1.67) (P = 0.001), respectively. The mean thickness of the left longissimus in the relaxed was 2.33 ± 0.51 cm (95 % CI: 2.19 ~ 2.47), that in the contracted state was 3.20 ± 0.61 cm (95 % CI: 3.03 ~ 3.37) (P < 0.001), and those in the corresponding right side were 2.34 ± 0.49 cm (95 % CI 2.20 ~ 2.48) and 3.26 ± 0.68 cm (95 % CI 3.07 ~ 3.45) (P < 0.001), respectively. The mean thickness of the left iliocostalis in the relaxed state was 1.88 ± 0.41 cm (95 % CI: 1.76 ~ 1.99), that in the contracted state was 2.34 ± 0.49 cm (95 % CI: 2.00 ~ 2.47) (P < 0.001), and those in the corresponding right side were 1.98 ± 0.40 cm (95 % CI: 1.87 ~ 2.09) and 2.44 ± 0.56 cm (95 % CI: 2.29 ~ 2.60) (P < 0.001), respectively. The mean contracted state/resting state (C/R) of the longissimus was 1.39 ± 0.14 on the left and 1.40 ± 0.16 on the right. The multifidus and iliocostalis had the second highest C/R. The mean C/R of the multifidus was 1.23 ± 0.12 on the left and 1.24 ± 0.15 on the right, and the mean C/R of the iliocostalis was 1.25 ± 0.12 on the left and 1.24 ± 0.14 on the right. The quadratus lumborum had the lowest C/R, and the mean C/R of the quadratus lumborum was 1.17 ± 0.10 on the left and 1.19 ± 0.11 on the right.

Ultrasound can be used to dynamically assess the contractile function of the lumbar muscle in the locust pose of yoga, the C/R ratio can be used to indicate the ability of a muscle to contract, and dynamic ultrasound can guide lumbar exercise and feedback the exercise results. The establishment of this model allowed data regarding the contraction state of the lumbar muscle to be obtained in a normal population, and based on this, future studies can further explore and evaluate the contraction state of the lumbar muscle after yoga exercise in CLBP patients, the effect exercise on lumbar instability and on a patient population after lumbar operation.

• Lumbodorsal muscles
• locust yoga pose
• low back pain
• muscle thickness
• ultrasonography

• Ankle
• Ankle Joint/diagnostic imaging
• Biomechanical Phenomena
• Humans
• Posture
• Tarsal Bones
• Ultrasonography
• Young Adult

• exercise training
• functional rehabilitation
• postural stability

• Abdominal hollowing
• Home exercise
• Low back pain
• Portable
• Ultrasound

The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle activity of Bracing and Hollowing trunk exercises by means of T2 values using MRI. Subjects were 19 healthy adult males, of whom 10 (with mean height ± SD: 172.3 ± 4.7 cm, mean weight ± SD: 64.3 ± 5.4 kg, mean age ± SD 21.5 ± 1.9 years) performed hollowing and 9 (with mean height ± SD: 171.3 ± 2.1 cm, mean weight ± SD: 68.5 ± 11.7 kg, mean age ± SD: 23.0 ± 2.6 years) performed bracing. They were assessed using MRI. The imaging was completed using Osirix software, which measured T2 values from the transversus abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO), and multifidus (MF) muscles. Subsequently, T2 values recorded before the exercise were compared with those recorded after the exercise to evaluate the extent of change effected by exercise on the muscles. MRI T2 values indicated that the TrA and IO regions were activated to a significantly greater degree after bracing. No significant changes occurred in any muscle before and after hollowing. It was determined that the activity of the deeper trunk muscles was higher in bracing than in hollowing on comparing the T2 values obtained in the MRI.

• Electromyography
• Exercise
• Female
• Healthy Volunteers
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Muscles/diagnostic imaging
• Muscles/physiology
• Torso/diagnostic imaging
• Torso/physiology
• Young Adult

• Foot
• Low Back Pain
• Lumbosacral Region

• Biomechanical Phenomena/physiology
• Foot/physiology
• Humans
• Muscular Atrophy/diagnostic imaging
• Muscular Atrophy/pathology
• Paraspinal Muscles/anatomy & histology
• Paraspinal Muscles/diagnostic imaging
• Paraspinal Muscles/pathology
• Pressure
• Ultrasonography

• Low back pain
• Multifidus
• Muscle
• Thoracolumbar fascia
• Transversus abdominis
• Ultrasound

• Back Muscles/blood supply
• Back Muscles/diagnostic imaging
• Back Muscles/physiopathology
• Elasticity Imaging Techniques
• Hemodynamics
• Humans
• Low Back Pain/diagnostic imaging
• Low Back Pain/physiopathology
• Low Back Pain/therapy
• Regional Blood Flow
• Ultrasonography
• Ultrasonography, Doppler

• manometry
• outcome and process assessment
• palpation
• pelvic floor
• reproducibility of results
• strength

• Core muscle
• Internal oblique
• Lumber stabilization
• Multifidus
• Rehabilitation

• Diastasis recti abdominis
• Pelvic floor muscle strength
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Postpartum
• Urinary incontinence

• Adult
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Delivery, Obstetric/adverse effects
• Diastasis, Muscle/etiology
• Diastasis, Muscle/physiopathology
• Female
• Humans
• Incidence
• Muscle Strength
• Pelvic Floor/physiopathology
• Pelvic Organ Prolapse/epidemiology
• Pelvic Organ Prolapse/etiology
• Postpartum Period
• Pregnancy
• Prevalence
• Puerperal Disorders/epidemiology
• Puerperal Disorders/etiology
• Rectus Abdominis/physiopathology
• Urinary Incontinence/epidemiology
• Urinary Incontinence/etiology

• 2018YFC2002200 National Key R&D Program of China
• D151100001915003 Major scientific and technological project of Beijing science and Technology Committee

Different attentional foci may modify muscle activation during exercises. Our aim was to determine if it is possible to selectively activate the pectoralis major or triceps brachii muscles according to specific verbal instructions provided during the bench press exercise. 13 resistance-trained males (25.6±5.4 yrs, 182.7±9.1 cm, 86.4±9.7 kg) underwent an electromyographic signals acquisition of the sternocostal head, clavicular head of the pectoralis major, the anterior deltoid, and the long head of the triceps brachii (LT) during bench press exercise. Participants performed one non-instructed set (NIS) of 4 repetitions at 50% 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) and one NIS of 4 repetitions at 80% 1-RM. Four additional sets of 4 repetitions at 50% and 80% 1-RM were randomly performed with verbal instructions to isolate the chest muscles (chest instructed set, CIS) or to isolate the triceps muscles (triceps instructed set, TIS). Participants showed significantly higher LT activation during TIS compared to non-instructed set both at 50% (p=0.0199) and 80% 1-RM (p=0.0061) respectively. TIS elicited a significant (p=0.0250) higher activation of LT compared to CIS. Our results suggest that verbal instructions seem to be effective for increasing activity of the triceps brachii but not the pectoralis major during the bench press.

• bench press
• internal focus
• mind-muscle connection
• resistance training

• Abdominal draw-in maneuver
• Feedback method
• Muscle thickness

• Manual Therapy
• Pelvic floor muscle
• Physical therapy
• Sacroiliac joint pain

Many experts have used an indirect method for enhancing strength and performance of muscles in clinical practice. The indirect method, which called an irradiation is a basic procedure of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, there is little research related the effects of irradiation. This study investigated abdominal muscle activity during abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) combined with irradiation variations. The study recruited 42 healthy, young adults who were divided randomly into three groups according to which intervention they received. The first group performed the ADIM combined with coactivation of the pelvic floor muscle. The second group performed the ADIM combined with the irradiation resulting from dorsiflexion of the ankle. The third group performed the ADIM combined with the irradiation resulting from bilateral arm extension. Electromyography data were collected from the rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominis, and transversus abdominis/internal oblique abdominis (TrA/IO) muscles during ADIM combined with irradiation variations. There were significant differences in the abdominal muscle activity and the preferential contraction ratio of the TrA/IO among the three groups (P<0.05). ADIM combined with irradiation resulting from bilateral arm extension may be effective for enhancing the deep and superficial abdominal muscles of healthy people and athletes. The ADIM without the irradiation is advantageous for recovering motor control of the TrA/IO.

• Ab-dominal drawing-in maneuver
• Irradiation
• Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation

[Purpose] This study examined the measurement of the thickness of the transverse abdominal muscle in different tasks. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were eleven healthy adult females. Thicknesses of transverse abdominal muscle were measured in seven tasks in the supine position. The tasks were: 1) Resting state, 2) Maximal contraction of transverse abdominal muscle, 3) Maximal contraction of levator ani muscle, 4) Maximal simultaneous contraction of both transverse abdominal muscle and levator ani muscle, 5) Maximal simultaneous contraction of both transverse abdominal muscle and levator ani muscle with front side resistance added to both knee, 6) Maximal simultaneous contraction of both transverse abdominal muscle and levator ani muscle with diagonal resistance added to both knees, and 7) Maximal simultaneous contraction of both transverse abdominal muscle and levator ani muscle with lateral resistance added to both knees. [Results] The thicknesses of transverse abdominal muscle during maximal simultaneous contraction and maximal simultaneous contraction with resistance were greater than during the resting state. [Conclusion] The muscle output during simultaneous contraction and resistance movement were larger than that of each individual muscle.

• Exercise
• Levator ani muscle
• Transverse abdominal muscle

• Pelvic floor muscle contraction
• abdominal hollowing
• internal oblique abdominals
• local trunk muscle activation
• multifidus
• surface electromyography
• transverse abdominus
• walking

[Purpose] This study was intended to examine the most effective feedback method for contracting the musculus transversus abdominis muscle by using basic training, a pressure biofeedback unit, and real-time ultrasonographic imaging during abdominal hollowing exercise training. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects in this study were 30 healthy young students in their twenties. Thirty subjects were divided randomly and equally into the basic training, the pressure biofeedback unit, and real-time ultrasonographic imaging groups. All of the subjects received abdominal hollowing exercise training for 15 minutes. The subjects in the pressure biofeedback unit group were trained by using a pressure biofeedback unit. Those in the real-time ultrasonographic imaging group received training with monitoring of possible contraction of their musculus transversus abdominis muscles on ultrasonography. [Results] In all the three groups, the musculus transversus abdominis became significantly thicker, but more significantly in the real-time ultrasonographic imaging group than in the basic training group. [Conclusion] The feedback method using real-time ultrasonographic imaging may be more effective in thickening the musculus transversus abdominis muscle during exercise than the traditional feedback method with manual contact only. However, it is insufficient in terms of overall qualitative improvement of exercise outcome.

• Pressure biofeedback unit
• Real-time ultrasonographic imaging
• Transversus abdominis

Pilates and resistance exercises are used for lumbar stabilization training. However, it is unclear which exercise is more effective for lumbar stabilization. In our study, we aimed to compare surface muscle activity and deep muscle thickness during relaxation and spinal stabilization exercise in experienced Pilates and resistance exercise instructors. This study is a retrospective case control study set in the Exercise Prescription Laboratory and Sports Medicine Center. The participants included Pilates instructors (mean years of experience, 3.20±1.76; n=10), resistance exercise instructors (mean years of experience, 2.53±0.63; n=10), and controls (n=10). The participants performed 4 different stabilization exercises: abdominal drawing-in maneuver, bridging, roll-up, and one-leg raise. During the stabilization exercises, surface muscle activity was measured with electromyography, whereas deep muscle thickness was measured by ultrasound imaging. During the 4 stabilization exercises, the thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA) was significantly greater in the Pilates-trained group than the other 2 other groups. The internal oblique (IO) thickness was significantly greater in the Pilates- and resistance-trained group than the control group, during the 4 exercises. However, the surface muscle activities were similar between the groups. Both Pilates and resistance exercise instructors had greater activation of deep muscles, such as the TrA and IO, than the control subjects. Pilates and resistance exercise are both effective for increasing abdominal deep muscle thickness.

• Electromyography
• Exercise
• Obliquus internus abdominis
• Transversus abdominis
• Ultrasonography

Low back pain (LBP) is among the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions in the developed countries. It is a common problem causing disability and imposing a huge economic burden to individuals and state organizations. Imaging plays an important role in diagnosis of the etiology of LBP.

The electronic databases included: PubMed (1950 to present), Ovid SP Medline (1950 to present) and ISI (1982 to present) and Google Scholar. In every search engine another search was performed using various permutations of the following keywords: ultrasonography, ultrasound imaging, low back pain, back muscles, paraspinal muscles, multifidus, transverse abdominis, muscle size, spinal canal, sacroiliac joint and spondylolisthesis.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is widely used in evaluation of patients with LBP; however, high costs, limited availability and contraindications for its use have restricted MRI utilization. In a quest for a less expensive and readily available tool to investigate LBP, clinicians and researchers found ultrasonography (US) as an alternative. In this review we discuss the US application in diagnosis of some common causes of non-specific chronic LBP. Discussed topics include evaluation of spinal canal diameter, paraspinal and transabdominal muscles, sacroiliac joint laxity, pregnancy related LBP, sacroiliitis, and spondylolisthesis using US in patients with LBP.

While the first researches on employing ultrasound in diagnosis of patients with LBP had been focused on spinal canal diameter, recent studies have been mostly performed to evaluate the role of transabdominal and paraspinal muscles on core stability and thereby LBP occurrence. On the other side, Doppler ultrasonography has recently played an important role in objective measurement of joint laxity as a common etiology for LBP. Doppler imaging also in pregnant patients with LBP has been recommended as a safe and sensitive method. As conclusion, according to recent and most prestigious studies, focusing more on transabdominal muscle thickness can be considered as future approach in investigations.

• Low Back Pain
• Review Literature
• Ultrasonic Diagnosis

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the different effects of long-term intervention between proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and neuromuscular joint facilitation (NJF) patterns for the pelvis on chronic low back pain as assessed by the cross-sectional area of the multifidus muscle and the thickness of the transversus abdominis muscle. [Subjects] The subjects were 12 young people (five males, seven females) who had experienced chronic low back pain on one side for more than 6 months. [Methods] The subjects were treated by resting, PNF or NJF therapy, and each treatment was administered for one month. Ultrasonography was used to measure the changes in the transversus abdominis muscle thickness and the multifidus muscle cross-sectional area. [Results] The thickness of the transversus abdominis muscle and the cross-sectional area of the multifidus muscle in the NJF group, after resting, increased significantly and were higher than those in the PNF group. [Conclusion] The results show that significantly better improvement can be obtained for chronic low back pain by applying long-term intervention of NJF patterns.

• Long-term intervention
• Low back pain
• Neuromuscular joint facilitation (NJF)

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the immediate effects of an intervention comprising proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) or neuromuscular joint facilitation (NJF) on chronic low back pain as assessed by the thickness of musculus transversus abdominis [Subjects] The subjects were 12 young people (five males, seven females) who had chronic low back pain on one side for more than 6 months. [Methods] Subjects were asked to lie their sides with the painful side facing up. The subjects received PNF or NJF exercise treatments. The changes in the musculus transversus abdominis thickness were measured using ultrasonography. [Result] The thickness of the musculus transversus abdominis in the NJF group increased significantly and was higher than that in the PNF group and at rest. [Conclusion] The results showed that significantly better improvement can be obtained for chronic low back pain by applying NJF patterns to the musculus transversus abdominis.

• Low back pain
• Musculus transversus abdominis
• Neuromuscular joint facilitation (NJF)

• Confounding factor
• Food intake
• Internal oblique
• Outcome measurement errors
• Transversus Abdominis
• Ultrasonography

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to devise a new urinary incontinence exercise using co-contraction of both the transverse abdominal muscle (TA) and pelvic floor muscle (PFM) and examine the intervention effect in middle-aged women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). [Subjects] The subjects were fifteen women with SUI who were divided into two groups: the TA and PFM co-contraction exercise group (n=9) and the control group (n=6). [Methods] Participants in the exercise group performed TA and PFM co-contraction exercise. The thickness of the TA was measured before and after 8 weeks of exercise using ultrasound. The thickness of the TA was measured under 4 conditions: (1) at rest, (2) maximal contraction of the TA, (3) maximal contraction of the PFM, and (4) maximal co-contraction of both the TA and PFM. [Results] There were no significant differences among the results of the control group. In the exercise group, the cure rate of SUI was 88.9% after the intervention. There were significant differences in the thickness of the TA during maximal co-contraction of both the TA and PFM after the intervention. [Conclusion] The TA and PFM co-contraction exercise intervention increases the thickness of the TA and may be recommended to improve SUI in middle-aged women.

• Exercise
• Stress urinary incontinence
• Transverse abdominal muscle

The objective of this study was to determine appropriate knee angles for the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) through evaluation of changes in contraction ratios of the abdominal muscles and activity of quadriceps muscle in relation to changes in knee angles occurring while the ADIM is performed in the wall support standing (WSS). 20 subjects performed the ADIM at different knee angles (0°, 20°, 40°, 60°) in random order, standing at a point 6 inches away from the wall with the spine maintained in the neutral position. The WSS with knee flexion at 20° showed significantly higher preferential contraction ratio (PCR) of transversus abdominis (TrA) compared to other positions (0°, 40°, 60°). Therefore, performing the ADIM in the WSS with knee flexion at 20° appears to be the most appropriate position for TrA PCR.

• Abdominal drawing-in maneuver
• Knee angles
• Transversus abdominis
• Wall support standing

• Abdominal muscles
• Pelvic floor muscle
• Visual feedback

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of draw-in exercise on abdominal muscle activity in the standing and supine positions. [Methods] Twenty healthy women participated in this study. The subjects were required to complete two draw-in exercises (standing and supine positions) using a biofeedback pressure unit. The root mean square (RMS) values of the EMG data were expressed as a percentage of the resting contraction. The data were analyzed using the independent t-test. [Results] According to the changes in the activities of the abdominal muscles, the draw-in exercise in the standing position produced the most significant increase in the activities of the rectus abdominis, the transverse abdominis, the internal oblique, and the external oblique muscles. [Conclusion] The activities of the trunk stability muscles (rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique) increased more in the standing than in the supine position, enabling the subjects to overcome gravity. Therefore, to strengthen the activation of the abdominal muscles, a standing position seems to be more effective than a supine position for draw-in exercises.

• Abdominal muscle activity
• Positions
• Pressure biofeedback unit

[Purpose] It is well-known that the muscles of spinal stability also play roles in respiration. The spinal stability muscles are divided into two subgroups, the local muscle group and the global muscle group. Appropriately coordinated activation of muscle groups are recommended for more efficient spinal stability. The indirect method of measuring coordination of muscle groups is the synergist ratio of local muscles to global muscles. The purpose of this study was to investigate the synergist ratios of the spinal stability muscles of different breathing patterns. [Subjects and Methods] Forty healthy subjects performed 4 different breathing patterns and 3 synergist ratios calculated from % maximal voluntary isometric contraction of 2 local group muscles and 3 global group muscles were analyzed. [Results] The results of this study show synergist ratios were consistent among the breathing patterns and there was a consistent muscle reliance pattern of synergist ratios during each breathing pattern. The synergist ratio of extensors stayed around 1. The results were consistent with those of previous studies of spinal stability exercises. [Conclusion] We suggest that different breathing patterns could be used as a component of spinal stability exercises, secondary to the similarities of muscle coordination with spinal stability exercises, commonly used in clinics.

• Respiration
• Spinal stability
• Synergist ratio

• Abdominal drawing-in maneuver
• Pressure biofeedback unit
• Pressure variation

This study was performed to assess and compare the effects of Pilates exercise on flexibility and lumbo-pelvic movement control between the Pilates training and control groups.

A randomized single-blinded controlled design was utilized in the study. Forty healthy male and female volunteers (mean age 31.65±6.21 years) were randomly divided into Pilates-based training (20 subjects) and the control groups (20 subjects). The Pilates group attended 45-minute training sessions, 2 times per week, for a period of 8 weeks. Flexibility and lumbo-pelvic stability tests were determined as outcome measures using a standard “sit and reach test” and “pressure biofeedback” respectively at 0, 4 and 8 weeks of the study.

The results showed that the Pilates training group improved flexibility significantly (P<0.001) during time intervals. This effect was also significantly greater than the control group for both 4 weeks and 8 weeks of the training period (P<0.001). There were 65% and 85% of the subjects from Pilates group passing the lumbo-pelvic stability test at 4 and 8 weeks of training periods respectively. No subjects from the control group passed the test at any stages.

Pilates can be used as an adjunctive exercise program to improve flexibility, enhance control-mobility of trunk and pelvic segments. It may also prevent and attenuate the predisposition to axial musculoskeletal injury.

• Exercise
• Flexibility
• Lumbo-pelvic stability
• Pilates Training
• Pilates-Based Exercises