• J F MacKenzie, P N Grimshaw, C D S Jones, K Thoirs, and J Petkov.
• School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
• Work. 2014 Jan 1;47(4):453-62.

BackgroundIt is well accepted that both multifidus and transversus abdominis muscles have a vital role in maintaining spinal stability.ObjectiveTo determine if multifidus and transversus abdominis could be strengthened by a six-week conditioning program and to establish if the amount of electromyographic (EMG) activity in external oblique differed in a lifting and holding task after the conditioning program.MethodsEMG activity of external oblique during a lifting and holding task was obtained. Multifidus cross-sectional area and transversus abdominis width were measured using real time ultrasound in six males and five females, with no back pain (mean age of 26.3 (± 5.4) years). The participants then performed a six-week muscle-conditioning program for multifidus and transversus abdominis, after which the EMG activity of external oblique and dimensions of multifidus and transversus abdominis were re-measured.ResultsBoth multifidus and transversus abdominis significantly increased in size. There was significantly less activity in external oblique during a lifting task after the conditioning program, with no change in external oblique activity during a holding task.Conclusionsthis study may indicate a link between the dimensional increase of multifidus and transversus abdominis, and the decrease in EMG activity in external oblique during lifting.

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