TRANSVERSUS ABDOMINIS ACTIVATION AND TIMING IMPROVES FOLLOWING CORE STABILITY TRAINING: A RANDOMIZED TRIAL.

Background: Patients with non-specific low back pain (LBP) often present with a decrease in transversus abdominis (TrA) muscle activation and delayed onset of contraction with extremity movements, potentially contributing to recurrent LBP. Core stability is required for extremity movement and if the timing of when the TrA contracts is not corrected patients may continue to experience LBP.

Hypothesis/purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a four-week core stability rehabilitation program on TrA activation ratio and when the TrA initiates contraction during upper extremity movements in subjects with and without LBP.