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Changes in recruitment of transversus abdominis correlate with disability in people with chronic low back pain
  1. P H Ferreira1,2,
  2. M L Ferreira1,
  3. C G Maher3,
  4. K Refshauge1,
  5. R D Herbert3,
  6. P W Hodges4
  1. 1Discipline of Physiotherapy, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  2. 2Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
  3. 3The George Institute for International Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  4. 4Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr P Ferreira, Discipline of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, PO Box 170, Lidcombe 1825, Australia; p.ferreira{at}usyd.edu.au

Abstract

Objectives Although motor control exercises have been shown to be effective in the management of low back pain (LBP) the mechanism of action is unclear. The current study investigated the relationship between the ability to recruit transversus abdominis and clinical outcomes of participants in a clinical trial.

Methods Ultrasonography was used to assess the ability to recruit transversus abdominis in a nested design: a sample of 34 participants with chronic LBP was recruited from participants in a randomised controlled trial comparing the efficacy of motor control exercise, general exercise and spinal manipulative therapy. Perceived recovery, function, disability and pain were also assessed.

Results Participants with chronic LBP receiving motor control exercise had a greater improvement in recruitment of transversus abdominis (7.8%) than participants receiving general exercise (4.9% reduction) or spinal manipulative therapy (3.7% reduction). The effect of motor control exercise on pain reduction was greater in participants who had a poor ability to recruit transversus abdominis at baseline. There was a significant, moderate correlation between improved recruitment of transversus abdominis and a reduction in disability (r = −0.35; 95% CI 0.02 to 0.62).

Conclusion These data provide some support for the hypothesised mechanism of action of motor control exercise and suggest that the treatment may be more effective in those with a poor ability to recruit transversus abdominis.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2009.061515

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    Footnotes

    • Funding The trial was funded by the Motor Accident Authority of NSW; CGM, RDH and PWH are supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.

    • Competing interests None.

    • Ethics approval The study was approved by the ethics committees of the University of Sydney and the South Western and Western Sydney Area Health Services.

    • Patient consent Obtained.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.