Effects of abdominal hollowing and bracing on each intervertebral angle during quadruped upper and lower extremity lift: Three-dimensional motion analysis of the spine

To investigate the effects of intentionally minimizing spinal motion and abdominal muscle contractions on intervertebral angles during quadruped upper and lower extremity lift (QULEL). Fifteen healthy men performed the QULEL under four conditions: without any special instructions (basic), with the intention to minimize spinal motion (intentional), with abdominal bracing (bracing), and with abdominal hollowing (hollowing). Each intervertebral angle was calculated from the local coordinate system using the marker data obtained from a motion capture system. Shear moduli, as indicators of the activities of the right transversus abdominis (TrA), internal and external oblique, and rectus abdominis muscles, were assessed using shear wave elastography during QULEL. One-way repeated-measures analysis of variance and multiple comparisons among conditions were used to compare each shear modulus of the abdominal muscle and the changes in thoracic kyphosis (Th1-12), lumbar lordosis (L1-5), and lumbar intervertebral angles from the quadruped position to QULEL. The significance level was set at P < 0.05. Changes in lumbar lordosis and L2/L3 and L3/L4 extension angles were significantly lower under hollowing than under other conditions (effect size eta(2)(G): lumbar lordosis, 0.068; L2/L3, 0.072; L3/L4, 0.043). The change in the L1/L2 extension angle significantly decreased in bracing and hollowing compared with the basic (eta(2)(G) = 0.070). Only the TrA shear modulus significantly increased in bracing and hollowing compared with the basic (eta(2)(G) = 0.146). Abdominal hollowing during the QULEL increased TrA activity and suppressed lumbar extension, except at L4/L5, and may be more effective as a rehabilitation exercise for controlling spinal motion.