Real Time Ultrasound Imaging
April 1, 2008
A better way to train deep abdominal muscles?
View of the deep abdominal muscles
Traditional “core strengthening” has typically been thought of as involving hundreds of repetitions of sit-ups (or other equally grueling exercises), to the point of experiencing a deep burning sensation until you just can’t go any further. Recent research now has come to question that approach when dealing with core training in relation to low back and pelvic pain. Training the cognitive neurological pathway to specific deep abdominal and spinal muscles as well as the pelvic floor and diaphragm has shown to reduce the reccurrence of future LBP by 84% verses traditional strengthening (Hides et. al, 2001). Real Time Ultrasound (RTUS) biofeedback training is the most effective approach and is available only at KEPT.
Muscles visualized with RTUS for core training are the transversus abdominus, multifidus, and pelvic floor. These muscles are collectively referred to as “local muscles”, the primary core stabilizing muscles of your spine and pelvis.
