Professor Japan University of Health Sciences Satte City, Saitama, Saitama, Japan
Research Objectives: The abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) helps specifically contract the transversus abdominal muscle, which is one of the deep abdominal muscles. It is recognized to be effective in treating chronic lumbago and stabilizing balance. However, the sustained effect of the ADIM in the prone position (P-ADIM) on balancing ability has not been elucidated. This study examined the sustained effect of P-ADIM on static and dynamic balance.
Design: Randomized crossover controlled trial. Statistical analysis was performed by two-way analysis of variance, followed by a paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
Setting: University facilities.
Participants: The participants were 15 healthy non-athlete adult men (21.3 ± 0.9 years).
Interventions: The CON group were asked to maintain the prone position on a bed for 3 min and did not perform P-ADIM. The P-ADIM group performed two sets of abdominal drawing-in for 10 seconds and rest for 3 min in the prone position. The both static and dynamic balancing abilities were measured just before the intervention, and immediately, 15 min, and 30 min after starting the ADIM.
Main Outcome Measures: The total trajectory length, the rectangular area, and the outer periphery, the functional reach test (FRT).
Results: In the P-ADIM group, decrease in the total trajectory length and the rectangular area was sustained for 30 min. The outer peripheral area decreased immediately after the intervention. An increase in the FRT distance was sustained until 15 min. Meanwhile, no significant differences were noted in the one-leg standing position when compared with that of the CON group.
Conclusions: The results suggested that the P-ADIM may be effective in stabilizing static and dynamic balance in both immediate and sustained ways. However, its effect on dynamic balance may disappear faster than its effect on static balance. Meanwhile, P-ADIM may not be as effective in stabilizing the one-leg standing position, which requires the ankle strategy. P-ADIM will be useful as one of the training methods that can be performed in the prone position.
Author(s) Disclosures: The authors have no financial conflicts of interest disclose concerning the study.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion, participants will be able to understand the immediate and sustained effects of balance stabilization by ADIM.
Upon completion, participants will be able to understand the relationship between ADMI and transversus abdominal muscle.
Upon completion, participants will be able to understand the relationship between ADMI and swaying center of gravity.