Transverso Abdominal

NAJSPT

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Differences in transverse abdominis activation with stable and unstable bridging exercises in individuals with low back pain
Susan A. Saliba,PhD, PT, ATCa Ted Croy, PTa Rebecca Guthrie, MEd, ATCa Dustin Grooms, MEd, ATCa Arthur Weltman, PhDa Terry L. Grindstaff, PhD, ATC, DPT, CSCS, OCSa

ABSTRACT
Background. Thetransversus abdominis (TrA) is a spine stabilizer frequently targeted during rehabilitation exercises for individuals with low back pain (LBP). Performance of exercises onunstable surfaces is thought to increase muscle activation, however no research has investigated differences in TrA activation when stable or unstable surfaces are used. Objective. Thepurpose of this study was to investigate whether TrA activation in individuals with LBP is greater when performing bridging exercises on an unstable surface versus a stablesurface. Methods. Fifty one adults (mean ± SD, age 23.1 ± 6.0 years, height 173.60 ± 10.5 cm, mass 74.7 ± 14.5 kg) with stabilization classification of LBP were randomly assignedto either exercise progression utilizing a sling bridge device or a traditional bridging exercise progression, each with 4 levels of increasing difficulty. TrA activation ratio(TrA contracted thickness/TrA resting thickness) was measured during each exercise using ultrasound imaging. The dependent variable was the TrA activation ratio. Results. Thefirst 3 levels of the sling-based and traditional bridging exercise progression were not significantly different. There was a significant increase in the TrA activation ratio inthe sling-based exercise group when

bridging was performed with abduction of the hip (1.48 ± .38) compared to the traditional bridge with abduction of the hip (1.22 ± .38; p