Effect of Pelvic Floor Muscle Contraction on Ultrasonographic Thickness of Abdominal Muscles

The current study compared the effect of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction on thickness of abdominal muscles during an abdominal hollowing maneuver (AHM), which is a specific contraction of transverse abdominis(TrA)and internal oblique(IO) muscles in healthy and low back pain (LBP) subjects.

Thirty subjects (15 with LBP and 15 without LBP) participated in this study. In ultrasonographic evaluation, the thickness of the TrA and IO muscles in AHM with and without PFM contraction were measured.

No significant difference was seen in the thickness of abdominal muscles in contraction alone and in combination with PFM contraction during AHM between the two groups. No difference was seen in the thickness of abdominal muscles with and without PFM contraction between the LBP and healthy subjects in AHM.

Adding PFM contraction had no significant effect on abdominal-muscle contraction in subjects with or without LBP.